Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback Kyler Murray was ruled out with a potential concussion after taking a hit to the head from Green Bay Packers safety Javon Bullard during their Week 1 matchup on September 13, 2026. McCarthy remains the team’s third-string quarterback.
Kyler Murray Exits Week 1 After Hard Hit to the Head
The Minnesota Vikings lost starting quarterback Kyler Murray to an early injury during the first quarter of their regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers. Murray scrambled on the team’s third drive and executed a slide, during which Packers safety Javon Bullard initiated a glancing blow to the quarterback’s head and neck area.
Bullard was assessed a personal foul for unnecessary roughness on the play. Murray’s helmet came off during the collision, creating an extra scary moment as the player remained down on the turf. Medical personnel rushed to attend to him before he walked off the field under his own power and headed straight to the locker room.
“Kyler Murray is down after getting hit by Packers safety Javon Bullard as he slid. Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings’ medical staff are out checking on Murray, who’ll walk off on his own. Carson Wentz is in at QB,”
Ben Goessling, The Minnesota Star Tribune, via The Sporting News
The Vikings initially listed Murray as questionable to return while being evaluated for a concussion. Shortly after the evaluation began, the team ruled him out for the remainder of the game.
Carson Wentz Steps In as Backup While J.J. McCarthy Sits QB3
Murray’s departure thrust Carson Wentz onto the field earlier than expected, cementing a depth chart hierarchy that head coach Kevin O’Connell announced just days prior. Wentz, a 33-year-old veteran who signed with Minnesota, entered the contest as the primary backup. McCarthy dropped to the number three quarterback spot.
O’Connell addressed the quarterback situation on Wednesday ahead of the opener, explaining the decision to lean on veteran experience behind their starter.
O’Connell pointed to Wentz’s extensive background when discussing the backup role. Carson, he’s got almost 100 career starts,
the coach noted, emphasizing that Wentz’s ability to apply a career’s worth of experience
with limited repetitions proved essential for supporting an offensive scheme built around Murray.
How J.J. McCarthy Fell Behind the Depth Chart
The demotion marks a steep decline for McCarthy, whom the Vikings selected with the cbssports.com out of Michigan. After the franchise let Pro Bowl quarterback Sam Darnold leave in free agency to clear a path for the young prospect, a rookie season lost to injury and subsequent struggles altered the team’s trajectory.
McCarthy missed 24 of 34 possible games across his first two professional seasons. During 10 starts last year, he completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, throwing 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions while adding 181 rushing yards and four scores.
Statistical tracking from CBS Sports Research highlights the severity of those rookie struggles: McCarthy finished last in the NFL in completion percentage, touchdown-to-interception ratio, and passer rating at 72.6, making him the only first-round quarterback since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger to bottom out in completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio during a debut season.
Contract Contexts and Roster Construction in Minnesota
The Vikings reshaped their quarterback room during the offseason by bringing in Murray on a one-year deal after the Arizona Cardinals released him. Murray, a two-time Pro Bowler and the 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year, started five games last year for Arizona, completing 68.3% of his passes for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions before injuries interrupted his campaign.
Durability questions surround both of Minnesota’s top two options. Murray missed 30 of 68 possible games between 2022 and 2025, while Wentz has not appeared in double-digit games in a single season since 2022. Wentz extended an NFL record last year by playing for his sixth different franchise in six seasons.
With Max Brosmer waiting on the practice squad, the Vikings structured their roster to avoid a repeat of the turbulence they managed last season. If injuries force McCarthy back onto the field later in the year, the organization hopes strong performances could eventually make him a candidate to be traded for a Day 3 draft pick.
