Vikings rule out Kyler Murray for Week 2 vs. Bears, Carson Wentz to start

Murray remains in concussion protocol after his anticipated Vikings debut lasted less than one quarter

Sep 18, 2026 at 3:02 pm ET • 1 min read

Kyler Murray (concussion) is out for the Vikings' Week 2 game against the Bears, the team announced. Carson Wentz will get the start, his sixth for Minnesota since the beginning of last season.

Murray's much-anticipated Vikings debut ended after less than a quarter, when he got hit by two Packers defenders -- Lukas Van Ness and Javon Bullard -- during a scramble. Bullard was flagged for unnecessary roughness while Murray lay on the ground and got medical attention, and Murray went back to the locker room shortly thereafter.

Wentz entered and played well, going 12 for 19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns, including a 39-yarder to Justin Jefferson. He did not commit a single turnover (a Packers penalty wiped out an interception), but he had three sacks (a Packers penalty also wiped out another sack).

The Vikings were hoping Murray would stop the quarterback carousel Minnesota unhappily rode last season. The Vikings opened the season with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy as the starter, but he got hurt, leading to Wentz taking over. All told, McCarthy started 10 games, Wentz started five games, and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer started two games.

Murray, on a one-year deal, battled McCarthy for the starting job for a few weeks in training camp before winning the job. McCarthy then fell to third on the depth chart, behind Wentz, as he struggled with his accuracy. Now, it'll be Wentz called upon again in an important early-division matchup. The Vikings and Bears are both 1-0 this season.