Vikings start Carson Wentz Monday with Kyler Murray ruled out

Coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Murray will miss Monday night against Buffalo with a hamstring strain and that injured reserve is not under consideration. Carson Wentz gets the start, with Max Brosmer as the backup, and Murray is week-to-week.

By RSO NFL Desk / 4 sources / Published November 5, 2026

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray will miss Monday night's game against the Buffalo Bills with a hamstring strain, and Carson Wentz will start in his place, coach Kevin O'Connell announced Thursday. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Mike Garafolo, and Adam Schefter all reported the decision from O'Connell's availability, and ESPN carried the same announcement.
Murray is week-to-week. O'Connell said putting him on injured reserve is "not under consideration at all," per Garafolo, which matches Alec Lewis of The Athletic and RotoWire's write-up of the same presser. The coach framed it as a short-term problem the staff does not want to make worse by playing him through it.
This is Wentz's second start of the season. He started Week 2 against the Chicago Bears when Murray was out with a concussion and led Minnesota to a 9-3 win. Max Brosmer will back up Wentz on Monday, Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported.
Murray has six starts with the Vikings this season. ESPN notes he ranks near the bottom of qualified quarterbacks in QBR through those starts, while Minnesota sits 6-1 atop the NFC North behind a strong defense. The Bills present a harder test for Wentz than Chicago did in Week 2.
For RSO owners, this is a clean starting-QB switch for Monday. Sit Murray in every format. Start Wentz only if you need a desperation streamer and understand the matchup; he is not an automatic upgrade for Minnesota's skill players just because he is under center. Jefferson, Addison, Hockenson, and the run game stay in play as usual, but expect a more conservative passing approach until Murray returns.
What to watch next: Minnesota's practice reports early next week for any sign Murray is progressing, and whether the week-to-week label stretches into a second missed game. If the Vikings ever reverse course on IR, that would be a four-game minimum and a different roster decision. Until then, hold Murray on IR or the bench and treat Wentz as a one-week fill-in with a tough MNF draw.

Related stories