Kyler Murray suffered a concussion during his debut with the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season and was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter.
The injury occurred when Murray attempted to slide after scrambling. He took a hard hit to the head and remained on the field briefly while medical personnel evaluated him before walking to the locker room for further examination.
Kyler Murray could not return
The Vikings announced during the second quarter that Murray had been ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion. Before leaving, he completed 3 of 5 passes for 18 yards and threw one interception.
The injury is particularly significant because Murray had been named Minnesota's starting quarterback after winning the position during training camp.
Carson Wentz takes over
Carson Wentz replaced Murray and became a key part of Minnesota's comeback. The veteran quarterback threw three touchdown passes and helped the Vikings overcome a 12-point deficit.
Minnesota eventually defeated Green Bay 39-22 after trailing for much of the first half.
Who will start for Minnesota?
Murray's status will be one of the Vikings' biggest storylines heading into Week 2. The quarterback must complete the NFL's concussion protocol and receive medical clearance before returning to action.
Wentz now becomes an important option for Minnesota while Murray recovers. J.J. McCarthy is also part of the Vikings' quarterback group and served as the emergency third quarterback during Sunday's game.