Kyler Murray is reportedly the Minnesota Vikings’ starting quarterback for Week 1, getting the nod over third-year signal-caller J.J. McCarthy. ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped the news, confirming Murray will lead the team when they host their NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers, on September 13 to kick off the season. This move is a direct response to some brutal quarterback play that sunk the Vikings’ 2025 campaign.
Murray’s Redemption Shot After Rocky Arizona Exit
Murray is heading into his eighth NFL season, but his first outside of Arizona. The Cardinals drafted him No. 1 overall in 2019, and he definitely had some high points, even leading them to an 11-win season and the playoffs in 2021. The dude made two Pro Bowls, throwing for 121 touchdowns against 60 interceptions, racking up 20,460 yards in 87 starts. And let’s not forget his legs, with 3,193 rushing yards and another 32 scores on the ground. Problem was, injuries kept popping up. He tore his ACL in December 2022, missing the rest of that season and nine games in 2023. Then, a mid-foot sprain in Week 5 of 2025 sidelined him for the final 12 games. After all that, the Cardinals decided to move on, and Murray quickly landed with the Vikings on a one-year deal. Ian Rapoport even hinted in December that Minnesota was looking for a veteran to steady the ship after their quarterback struggles.
McCarthy’s Early Career Stumbles Opened The Door
This decision means J.J. McCarthy, once the guy, is now on the sideline. The Vikings traded up one spot with the New York Jets to grab McCarthy 10th overall in the 2024 NFL draft, fresh off a perfect 15-0 national championship season at Michigan. But his NFL start has been rough. He tore his meniscus in his first preseason game in 2024, missing the whole season. Then in 2025, as the presumed QB1, he battled a high ankle sprain, a concussion, and a small hairline fracture in his hand, all while struggling with inconsistency. In his 10 starts last year, McCarthy completed only 57.6 percent of his passes for just 11 touchdowns and 12 picks, totaling 1,632 yards. He did add 181 rushing yards and four scores, but the numbers speak for themselves. The Vikings went 9-8 in 2025, but their quarterbacks McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer combined for a pathetic 17 touchdowns against 21 interceptions, completing only 61.5 percent of their passes and taking a whopping 60 sacks. Those numbers are hard to ignore.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell kept his cards close to his chest before camp, saying both QBs would get reps. But by August 7, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert had already called Murray the “heavy favorite.” Now it’s official. The Vikings are banking on Murray to tap into this roster’s talent and get them back to the playoffs after just missing out last year. Can Murray deliver? We’ll start finding out September 13 against the Packers. It’s a huge test, and all eyes will be on him.
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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