Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray suffered a concussion 11 plays into his first game with the team on Sunday, and the Vikings came back without him to beat the Green Bay Packers 39-22 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
On a third-and-7 scramble in the first quarter, Murray slid and was hit by Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness and safety Javon Bullard. His helmet came off on the play, and ESPN reports he showed a fencing posture immediately after impact. He stayed on the turf before walking off under his own power and was ruled out. Bullard was flagged for unnecessary roughness, extending the Minnesota drive. Murray finished 3 of 5 for 18 yards with an interception, per NFL.com.
Murray was starting because the Vikings named him QB1 over J.J. McCarthy in August, five months after he signed with Minnesota in free agency.
Wentz and the comeback
Carson Wentz came on and completed 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns. According to CBS Sports, Minnesota trailed 22-10 and scored the game's final 29 points. The swing began when Packers coach Matt LaFleur took a made field goal off the board to go for it on fourth-and-1, and Green Bay turned the ball over on downs.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores blitzed on 78.3% of Jordan Love's dropbacks. Love threw for 387 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 21-of-42 passing. Christian Watson caught six passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, including an 81-yard catch-and-run.
What O'Connell said
Head coach Kevin O'Connell called the hit a "violent, physical play" but said, "I don't put any fault on anybody there." After the game he said he had no update on the concussion evaluations and that the team would "take it day by day."
On Monday, O'Connell said Murray was "pretty good" after attending team meetings and reviewing film, and did not rule him out for Week 2 against the Chicago Bears. Murray remains in the concussion protocol. If he cannot clear it, Wentz starts, with J.J. McCarthy as the backup. Every Week 1 result is in our NFL Week 1 scoreboard.
Source: NFL.com
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