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The Minnesota Vikings are making another change at quarterback. Head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Thursday that Carson Wentz, the backup, will take the starting role for Monday night's matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The decision comes as starting quarterback Kyler Murray is dealing with a strained hamstring.
This shift represents the 14th time the Vikings have switched quarterbacks mid-season since Kirk Cousins suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in the middle of the 2023 campaign. The changes have been prompted by both injuries and performance considerations.
Murray sustained the injury on a read-option run early in the fourth quarter of Minnesota's 19-15 loss to the Detroit Lions last Sunday. Throughout that game, Murray also had difficulty connecting with open receivers, which left wide receiver Justin Jefferson visibly frustrated; Jefferson declined to speak with reporters afterward.
The Vikings' offense has struggled to find the end zone this season, scoring only 12 touchdowns of any kind—the second-fewest in the NFL behind the Los Angeles Chargers (9). Those 12 touchdowns are tied for the fewest by any team that has started 6-1 or better through seven games in the last 90 years.
O'Connell stated that placing Murray on injured reserve is not under consideration. "I don't believe it to be much more than a week-to-week kind of thing right now," O'Connell said. "But for him, his movement skills and the way he plays the game, we do feel like we'd be putting him at risk of possibly turning this into a more significant injury than it is by trying to have him work through it here early on."
Murray scrambled seven times during a Week 4 game against the New Orleans Saints but has run only 13 times in his five remaining starts. O'Connell noted that the injury would affect more than just Murray's ability to run. "It's more the explosive movements," he said.
Key Analysis
The Vikings' quarterback situation remains fluid as the team manages Murray's hamstring injury while trying to maintain its winning record. With Wentz under center, Minnesota hopes to spark an offense that has struggled to score touchdowns despite a 6-1 start. The decision to start Wentz reflects caution with Murray's health and the importance of explosive movements for his playing style.
Originally reported by players_bio.