Kyler

Murray

“The word going into last night was the Vikings would be in the QB market ahead of the trade deadline if Carson Wentz didn’t play well,” Garafolo said. Narrator voice: He didn’t. Wentz was an utter disaster in Monday night’s loss to the Bills, completing 8-of-25 passes for 81 yards and two interceptions in the team’s second straight loss. Wentz in Week 9 had the league’s lowest drop back EPA and lowest success rate. He also appeared to sustain an ankle injury in the second half. With Kyler Murray (hamstring) struggling mightily in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, the Vikings could make a desperation move for Kirk Cousins or Daniel Jones ahead of today’s 4:00 p.m. eastern time trade deadline. Cousins, for one, would be a marked upgrade for Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota pass catchers. The Raiders have not expressed interest in parting with Cousins, however.

Both Murray and Jennings had been ruled out earlier in the week, leaving little surprise as the Vikings look to shake off their first loss of the season with an upset win over the powerhouse Bills on Monday Night Football. Carson Wentz starts under center and it remains to be seen who will fill the WR3 role, with Tai Felton and Myles Price the most likely candidates. The team also signed veteran Odell Beckham Jr. to the active roster Saturday.

Murray will likely be sidelined for multiple games after testing revealed a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Carson Wentz will draw the start under center while the team is reportedly exploring the trade market ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. The absence of Murray should benefit alpha wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who has struggled to develop chemistry with Murray this season.

Previous reports said Murray was “week-to-week” with the injury. There’s no question the Vikings will monitor Murray’s health every week, but a Grade 2 hamstring strain typically leads to missing multiple games. With Carson Wentz set to start on Monday Night Football against the Bills in Week 9 and the Vikings monitoring outside QB options ahead of the trade deadline, Murray isn’t even guaranteed to be the starter again once he’s healthy.

Murray reportedly experienced soreness in his hamstring following the Vikings’ Week 8 loss to the Lions. Carson Wentz will start for the Vikings’ Week 9 Monday Night Football game against the Bills, and potentially longer. If Wentz plays well, Murray could be relegated to the backup role. Murray does not necessarily need to be stashed on benches in two-quarterback leagues at this time. This situation is not ideal for him.

Kyler Murray suffered a hamstring injury in Week 8, but even Schefter alluded to the idea that this would be a soft benching for Murray. Schefter added that it “looks like there’s a question at the quarterback position” for Minnesota. Healthy or not, it sounds like Wentz is going to be under center versus Buffalo. Wentz made one start earlier in the season while Murray was sidelined with a concussion. He only threw for 133 yards on 19 attempts, but Wentz found the end zone three times. Murray hasn’t thrown three passing touchdowns in a game since the end of the 2024 season. Wentz’s gunslinging style will likely be a win for fantasy managers hoping to get more out of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, especially in a potential shootout with the Bills.

Nguyen studied Murray’s film in the Minnesota offense and noted the veteran is often late to recognize an open pass catcher. That could be related to Murray’s clear discomfort in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, as Nguyen noted. “When his first read doesn’t open up, he holds the ball and runs backward,” leading to drive-killing sacks. That’s exactly what unfolded a few times in high-leverage situations against the Lions in Week 8. Justin Jefferson on Sunday appeared frustrated by Kyler’s inability to make the proper reads on critical downs. All of this has an outsized impact on Murray’s fantasy prospects. He now ranks 31st among QBs in expected fantasy points per game, below Bo Nix and Daniel Jones.

Murray appeared to be slowed a bit by an injury in Week 8’s loss to the Lions, so this news isn’t all too surprising. O’Connell said Murray will go “through a full eval” of everything to determine the severity of his injury, but didn’t suggest this will cost Murray any time as the Vikings prepare to face the Bills next Monday night. That said, we know how these types of injuries can linger and lead to some missed time, so we won’t jump to assume Murray is in the clear for Week 9. In the event he can’t go, Carson Wentz would be in line to draw the start against Buffalo.

It was Murray’s best game as a Viking, and it came against a Detroit defense that was down a half dozen starters by the fourth quarter. Murray for once had a positive drop back EPA and eclipsed 200 passing yards for the third time this season in the run-heavy Minnesota offense. Murray’s best throw of the day came on a 51-yard bomb to Jordan Addison over double coverage. Murray has a couple well-times runs in high leverage situations too. His performance against the injury-riddled Lions secondary could be a good sign for Justin Jefferson and Addison going forward. They’ll face off against a vulnerable Buffalo secondary in Week 9.

Minnesota’s offensive ineptitude has reached stunning levels in recent weeks, including last Sunday against the Colts, when Murray had 150 yards and a touchdown while completing 58 percent of his pass attempts. “We’ll continue to get better,” Murray said Sunday night. “I know we will. I know we keep saying that, but I felt like we moved the ball well (against the Colts). We’ve just got to put the ball in the end zone.” The Vikings, who rank 25th in pass rate over expected this season, have operated conservatively on offense while their defense dismantles opponents week in and week out. As Lewis pointed out, the 2026 Vikings are the first team in a century to win five straight games with five or fewer TDs over that span. Murray through Week 7 ranks 28th out of 40 qualifying QBs in EPA per pass attempt and 33rd in fantasy points per drop back.