A new era of Minnesota Vikings football was ushered in on Sunday, but the excitement for QB Kyler Murray’s debut was quickly met with fear when the star signal-caller was knocked out of Sunday’s win over the Green Bay Packers with an injury.
Following a scary hit to the head by safety Javon Bullard, Murray exited the Week 1 contest and was ruled out shortly thereafter. Backup Carson Wentz replaced him for the short term, yet there’s still some uncertainty surrounding Murray’s availability for Week 2.
Below, we’ll dive into the latest Kyler Murray injury update and outline its potential impact on Vikings fantasy football picks and projections for PrizePicks.
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Kyler Murray Injury Update: Will Vikings QB Miss Time?
If one thing is clear in the aftermath of a frightening situation, it’s that it’s too early to tell whether Murray can bounce back in time to play on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Speaking to the media on Monday, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell provided an update on Murray.
The veteran field general is in concussion protocol, as expected, further complicating his timeline to get back in the lineup.
The NFL’s return-to-play process regarding concussions includes five phases, ranging from the reintroduction of activity to being fully cleared to participate in game action again:
- Phase 1: Meetings, film study, light activity (stretching, etc.)
- Phase 2: Supervised cardio with gradual buildup
- Phase 3: Inclusion of strength training and a maximum of 30 minutes of sport-specific exercises with no contact permitted
- Phase 4: Additional non-contact activity (throwing, running, etc.)
- Phase 5: Independent exam by a neurologist + clearance for practice
Prior to leaving Sunday’s outing, Murray had gone 3-for-5 passing with 18 yards and an INT. He also had 2 carries for 9 yards. Wentz filled in admirably the rest of the way, completing 12 of 19 pass attempts for 133 yards and 3 TDs while being sacked on three occasions.
Unfortunately for Murray, injuries have been the theme of his career. The former #1 overall pick played in just 11 games in 2022 and eight in 2023 but did manage to start all 17 in 2024. Last season, though, saw him play just five weeks before a foot injury cut his campaign short.
No two concussion-related injuries are the same, nor are the subsequent recoveries. Minnesota’s practice and injury reports in the coming days should provide a better indication of how Murray is progressing.
Vikings Fantasy Football Outlook If Murray Misses Week 2
It’s a shame for the Vikings and their fans that Murray is already banged up, as expectations were high for him to thrive under O’Connell. Per FantasyPros, his real-time average draft position in point-per-reception fantasy leagues was 138th overall, making him QB17 in an absolutely loaded field.
After tossing a trio of TDs against the Packers, could Wentz be a viable streaming option in fantasy lineups? Hold your horses. The former Philadelphia Eagles MVP candidate is now 33 years old and well past his prime, and the numbers from last year back it up. In five starts as a Viking, he averaged just 6.6 adjusted yards per pass attempt with 6 TDs and 5 INTs. That, paired with next to no rushing upside, makes him a risky player to back.
On PrizePicks, Wentz has a Week 2 player projection for 0.5 Player TDs (Demon) on the NFL board. Murray has no available projections as of the publishing of this story.
As far as Minnesota pass catchers are concerned, two rise above the rest of the list, which also contains WR names like Jordan Addison and newcomer Jauan Jennings. WR Justin Jefferson and TE T.J. Hockenson, who combined for 14 targets, 12 receptions, 128 receiving yards, and all of Wentz’s scores, figure to be high-volume options no matter who’s under center.
Jefferson’s per-snap production cratered some last year given the poor QB play around him, yet he still managed to produce a 30.1% target share and 1.88 yards per route run via SumerSports. Hockenson, who played in 15 games last year, produced a +2.7 catch rate over expected and +11.8 receiving EPA, according to NFL Pro.
The Vikings are 5.5-point underdogs as Sunday’s game approaches, via PrizePicks, returning a 2.77x payout with a triumph over Chicago. Those marks very well could change depending on Murray’s status, so keep an eye on things throughout the week.
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The Vikings got the result they wanted in Week 1, although not without losing one of their most talented pieces in the process. As Week 2’s game approaches, all eyes will be on whether Murray can pass through the league’s return-to-play protocol in time after displaying concussion symptoms.
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