The Vikings will take the field Sunday without their starting quarterback.
Kyler Murray (concussion) will not play in Minnesota's Week 2 contest in Chicago. The quarterback was limited in practice all week and was officially ruled out Friday when the team released its injury report. Carson Wentz will get the start instead, with J.J. McCarthy as his backup.
Murray suffered a concussion early in Minnesota's Week 1 win over Green Bay during a short scramble which ended with Murray sliding to the ground and sustaining a late hit from Packers safety Javon Bullard. Murray exited the game for further evaluation and was determined to have suffered a concussion, placing him in concussion protocol for the week.
The veteran backup Wentz replaced Murray and completed 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns in the comeback victory.
Murray's absence forces the Vikings back into familiar territory. Minnesota spent much of the 2025 season cycling through quarterbacks due to injuries to McCarthy and Wentz, eventually turning to third-stringer Max Brosmer out of necessity late in the season. The instability prompted the Vikings to quickly add Murray when he became available as a free agent in March, but after one week, they're once again relying on a backup.
Wentz will fill in for Murray again on Sunday against a Bears team that scored 59 points in their Week 1 win over Carolina. With both teams sitting atop the NFC North standings entering Week 2, Wentz will aim to keep pace with Ben Johnson's explosive Bears offense while Minnesota hopes Murray can return in time for Week 3.
Minnesota and Chicago kick off Sunday from Soldier Field at 1 p.m. ET.
