Kyler Murray went down with a concussion on just his 11th snap of the season Sunday. His helmet was knocked off after a scary hit while attempting to slide, and teammates immediately signaled for medical personnel. It was a brutal start for the Vikings against the Packers, but what came next was an absolute roller coaster that somehow ended in a crazy 39-22 victory.
Murray’s Early Exit Leaves Minnesota Holding Its Breath
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell rushed over to check on Murray, who he said was “totally conscious and talking” by the time he got there. But don’t medically quote him on it! O’Connell said he has “no update at this time on how those evaluations and things have gone.” Murray was hit by Packers’ Lukas Van Ness and Javon Bullard, and it looked seriously bad on the CBS broadcast. Seeing him in the locker room talking to teammates after the game is a good sign, sure, but his status for next Sunday’s game in Chicago is absolutely in question. O’Connell is sticking to “day by day,” noting Murray has to fully clear the NFL’s concussion protocol to even have a chance to play. You know that early season momentum is everything, and losing your starting QB on the 11th snap is a nightmare scenario.
Wentz Steps Up As the Vikings Unleash a 29-0 Explosion
Talk about a wild turn! With Murray out, Carson Wentz stepped in and absolutely delivered, throwing three touchdown passes. The Vikings, who were down 22-10, flipped the script with a mind-blowing 29-0 spurt. That comeback spanned the end of the third quarter and included a ridiculous three-TD sequence in the fourth. O’Connell couldn’t say enough good things about Wentz, praising his “calming presence” and telling him, “I want you to be aggressive. I trust you, and I know you’re gonna be able to make the next play.” And he did! O’Connell also wished Murray had gotten his chance, saying he “had a great week of practice” and was “ready to go.” But hey, Wentz got the job done when it mattered.
“A Special One” For O’Connell’s Resilient Squad
That kind of comeback doesn’t just happen by accident. O’Connell told his team, “there’s just some games that will stick with you for a long time. Today will be a special one.” He credited the team’s resilience, saying when “people take shots at culture and ‘What is it?’ That’s what it is. When things like this happen, they’re not just happening because you’re hoping them to happen. There’s foundational things that we talk about year-round.” He even dropped a simple, powerful line about Justin Jefferson: “He’s a really good football player.” So now, the question is: can they maintain that culture and fight when they head to Chicago next Sunday? All eyes will be on the injury report, but this team just showed they have some serious fight.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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