Carson Wentz will get the start.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said Thursday that Wentz will start at quarterback Monday night against the Buffalo Bills because Kyler Murray is dealing with a hamstring strain. O’Connell described Murray’s status as “week to week,” and named Max Brosmer as the backup. Murray also missed Week 2 after suffering a concussion in the season opener.
O’Connell expressed strong confidence in Wentz, pointing to his deep knowledge of the offense, his reads against defenses and his veteran experience — roughly 100 games — as reasons he’s the right choice while Murray isn’t at full strength. Wentz will be making his second start of the season and his seventh start for Minnesota over the past two years. In two appearances this year he has 276 passing yards, three touchdown passes, no interceptions, a 106.4 passer rating and a 59.0% completion rate.
Murray’s numbers this season through seven games are 1,022 passing yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions, an 86.6 passer rating and a 64.9% completion percentage, plus 167 rushing yards. Minnesota is coming off a 19-15 road loss to Detroit — its first defeat — and sits 6-1 overall. The defense has been elite, allowing just 13.3 points per game (first in the NFL) and 271.6 yards per game (second), while the offense ranks near the bottom of the league: 31st in passing yards (165.6 per game), 29th in total yards (279.4), 27th in scoring (20.0) and 17th in rushing (113.9).
Fan Take: This matters because a Wentz start against a top opponent like Buffalo will test whether the Vikings can lean on veteran steadiness when Murray is unavailable, and it could shape Minnesota’s approach to quarterbacking down the stretch. For the league, it’s another reminder how critical depth and quarterback health are to a team’s playoff chances and in-season roster decisions.
Source: www.foxsports.com
