Kyler Murray is officially cleared to play, returning to the field this Sunday for the Minnesota Vikings after clearing concussion protocol. This is huge for a Vikings squad that’s already sitting pretty at 2-0, despite Murray going down with a head injury in the first quarter of their Week 1 opener against the Green Bay Packers. The guy missed some of that first game and all of Week 2, but now he’s back and ready to lead the charge against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Wentz Stepped Up, But The Offense Struggled
When Murray went down in Week 1, things looked rough. The Vikings were trailing the Packers by 12 points in the second half. It felt like the game, and maybe their starting QB, was gone. But Carson Wentz, the backup, absolutely stepped up. He orchestrated a massive comeback, leading the team to score three touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone. Head coach Kevin O’Connell wasn’t shy about praising him at the time, telling reporters, “That’s why he’s here. For him to come in and do what he did and just be part of that calming presence that allowed our team to continue playing, I can’t say enough about him.” Wentz even notched another win against the Chicago Bears in Week 2, a gritty 9-3 victory in rainy conditions.
The Big Question Marks Around Murray’s Past
That Week 2 win against the Bears, though, was all about Minnesota’s defense. The offense couldn’t find the end zone and really struggled to generate any momentum. So, while Wentz kept the ship sailing to a 2-0 record, it begs the question: how will Murray look? The Vikings signed Murray this past offseason hoping he’d recapture his Pro Bowl form from 2020 and 2021. But let’s be real, his recent history isn’t exactly a clean bill of health. He was limited to just five games with the Arizona Cardinals during the 2025 campaign, and only played eight games in 2023. These aren’t just minor bumps, these are seasons cut short. Is he truly back to the guy who earned those Pro Bowl nods? That’s the million-dollar question for Vikings fans right now.
Now, Murray gets his chance to prove it. This Sunday against the Buccaneers is more than just a Week 3 game; it’s his big return, his opportunity to show everyone he can stay healthy and be the franchise quarterback the Vikings desperately need. The team is 2-0, but they need their starting QB firing on all cylinders, not battling the injury bug again.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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