Carson Wentz will start at quarterback for the Vikings against the Bills on Monday Night Football after Kevin O'Connell said Kyler Murray will be sidelined because of a hamstring strain.
O'Connell said Murray was evaluated on Monday and underwent imaging that confirmed the injury. The coach added that the team does not believe the issue is more than week to week right now, but said Minnesota does not want to risk turning it into something more serious by pushing Murray back too soon.
The decision changes the quarterback plan for a prime-time matchup between two 6-1 teams. It also sends Wentz back into the lineup after he already started twice earlier this season and helped Minnesota win both games.
Wentz first took over in Week 1 after Murray left early while in concussion protocol, then started again the following week at Chicago. Those two starts helped Minnesota open with consecutive division wins before Murray returned in Week 3 and handled the job for the past five games.
What it means for Minnesota
O'Connell said Murray's movement skills were part of the reason the Vikings are being cautious. That makes sense given how the offense has been handled this season, and it gives Wentz another chance to keep the Vikings on track on a short week.
Before Thursday, Minnesota was scheduled to practice on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in advance of the game. O'Connell also said there is a lot of confidence in Wentz, who is stepping back into a familiar role after already helping the Vikings win twice.
Wentz said the offense has been too inconsistent at times and emphasized the need to stay on the field, keep the defense off it, and remain efficient. He also said his focus is simply on getting a win, noting that the position is judged by wins and losses.
For Minnesota, the key question now is straightforward: can Wentz give the Vikings the same steady hand he showed earlier in the season while Murray recovers? The answer will shape a game that already carries major weight in the NFC race.
