Murray Returns as Vikings Starter Against Buccaneers With Message: Protect the Ball
The short version
- Kyler Murray cleared the NFL concussion protocol and starts at QB for the 2-0 Vikings in Week 3 against Tampa Bay.
- Murray suffered a concussion in Week 1 versus Green Bay and missed the Week 2 win over Chicago; Carson Wentz started both games.
- Analysts Judd Zulgad and Ben Leber stressed ball security and running the offense without forcing plays.
- T. J. Houshmandzadeh said Murray must target Justin Jefferson, who had eight catches for 92 yards and two TDs in Week 2.
Back from a Week 1 concussion, Kyler Murray resumes the Minnesota quarterback job in Week 3 as analysts urge him to lean on the run game and Justin Jefferson.
Kyler Murray is set to return as the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He exited the season opener early with a concussion against Green Bay and sat out the Week 2 victory over Chicago while Carson Wentz ran the offense. Now that he has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol, Murray resumes the QB1 role with Minnesota sitting at 2-0 against a pair of NFC North opponents.
Commentators have laid out what they want to see. Judd Zulgad of "Purple Daily" said on a Sept. 22 SKOR North video that the team has played a careful, run-heavy style with only one turnover across roughly two games, and he expects that approach to continue. In his view, the message to Murray is blunt: avoid mistakes, because head coach Kevin O'Connell appreciated that Wentz committed none.
Former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, speaking on the Sept. 22 edition of "Sound the Horn," said Murray simply needs to operate the offense, protect the football, and let the line and running backs carry the load while hitting a few play-action throws. He cautioned against forcing plays, especially under interior pressure.
Former NFL receiver T. J. Houshmandzadeh, on the Sept. 21 edition of "Pregame," said Murray must involve Justin Jefferson rather than relying on scrambles or Brian Flores' defense to win games. He noted Wentz connected with Jefferson in Week 2, when the wideout caught eight of nine targets for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Houshmandzadeh pointed out that Jefferson managed only two touchdowns all of last season but has already matched that total two games into this one, adding to the pressure on Murray.
