“Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has announced QB Kyler Murray has cleared the concussion protocol and will start Sunday at Tampa Bay,” as confirmed by the Vikings on the team’s official X account.

Despite playing clean football and avoiding any turnovers in consecutive wins to start the 2026 NFL season, Wentz is coming out of the starting lineup to make way for Murray.

Though both will become UFAs after the season, it makes sense that Minnesota is still trusting its 29-year-old signal-caller, who may have an unexplored ceiling, over Wentz (33), who may provide a more stable floor but a lower ceiling. Nevertheless, the shakeup at QB prior to the Buccaneers‘ game sends waves across the league.

Vikings make QB change after low-scoring Week 2 win

Indeed, Wentz and the offense barely produced anything in the 9-3 win over the Bears in Week 2 and were mainly wheeled to victory by Brian Flores’ defense and kicker Will Reichard, along with Caleb Williams’ injury, whose latest update is even better than Chicago imagined.

Still, Wentz led a comeback win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 and looked better than Murray did, even though the latter left the season opener less than 10 minutes into the game. Thus, the Vikings’ decision to send Murray right under center came as a surprise to many.

It’s not completely out of the blue, but some expected Minnesota to be cautious as Murray returns from concussion protocol, especially as the Vikings will face a lackluster Buccaneers team, which Wentz and company may be able to take care of, giving Murray more time to recover. Even if he’s cleared the protocol, every extra day of rest could make a big difference.

Wentz and Murray’s stats in 2026

Through his two games played for the Vikings in 2026, Wentz completed 23 of 39 pass attempts (59%) for 276 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Wentz has been sacked six times while putting up a 106.4 passer rating.

As for Murray, his sample size is extremely small, but that doesn’t make it any less concerning. Murray has completed three of his five pass attempts (60%) for 18 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. His passer rating so far is 27.5.

The fact that Murray’s first pass in a Vikings uniform was picked off and he sustained a serious head injury on his third drive are all concerning factors that won’t magically disappear because the former first overall selection cleared the league’s concussion protocol.

Potential trap game for Murray

Although having Murray’s back against a disappointing defense in Tampa Bay might be viewed optimistically, it also means he will go head-to-head with 11 defenders holding on to pent-up frustration, and that’s one dangerous cocktail.

Key takeaways

• Kyler Murray cleared concussion protocol and will start Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Carson Wentz threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns across two games in relief.
• Minnesota achieved a 2-0 start for only the third time in ten seasons.

“He came in feeling, you know, pretty good today. He is in the protocol so we’ll, you know, we’ll defer to the medical folks in that protocol for how the week goes,” the head coach said. “Just take it a day at a time.”

Next Sunday, the Vikings will face another important divisional matchup, traveling to Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears. If Murray is unable to play from the start, Carson Wentz will take over the reins of the team in the Windy City.

Wentz rose to the occasion

Carson Wentz stepped up big for Minnesota in their Week 1 victory over the Packers, coming off the bench early in the first quarter after Kyler Murray suffered a concussion. The 11-year veteran rallied the Vikings from a 12-point deficit to score 29 unanswered points in a 39–22 win, completing 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions (123.5 passer rating).

While he had a couple of shaky throws early on, Wentz quickly settled in under Kevin O’Connell, locking in with Justin Jefferson for two scores (plus a key two-point conversion) and finding T.J. Hockenson for another to keep the offense moving cleanly down the stretch.

Vikings look to keep rolling

Following their Week 2 trip to Chicago, the Vikings head to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Week 3. They return home to Minneapolis in Week 4 to host the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium, then travel to New Orleans for a Week 5 matchup against the Saints at the Caesars Superdome. After a Week 6 bye, Minnesota closes out this four-game stretch in Week 7 back at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Indianapolis Colts.

So, what is the main reason behind this decision? According to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo, O’Connell believes this gives the Vikings a better chance of coming away with a win at U.S. Bank Stadium. The head coach also made it clear that things could change, as the backup spot will be a week-to-week decision.

With that in mind, everything appears to be set in Minnesota for the start of a new season, one in which they will look to improve upon their 2025 results. As the weeks go by, it will be a matter of seeing whether McCarthy can eventually take on a more prominent role on the team.

O’Connell saw plenty during the preseason

The quarterback competition during the Vikings‘ 2026 preseason came down to dynamic efficiency versus young, developmental snaps, with Carson Wentz delivering an ultra-clean 9-for-11 passing performance for 92 yards in his main showcase against the Baltimore Ravens . On the other side, McCarthy had a mixed outing, going 4-for-7 for 30 yards while adding an 8-yard scramble.

Ultimately, Kevin O’Connell leaned on Wentz’s decade of NFL experience and steady decision-making in the pocket, opting for his composure under pressure, quick processing of complex defensive looks, and proven ability to protect the football as the decisive factors in earning the backup nod over McCarthy’s raw upside.

Looking to take control of the NFC North

In 2025, Vikings fans watched their team miss out on the postseason despite finishing with a winning 9–8 record and a five-game winning streak. Now, if they want to take control of the NFC North, they will need to get off to a strong start and look to rack up as many wins as possible early in the season.

• vs Green Bay Packers, September 13 – Week 1
• at Chicago Bears, September 20 – Week 2
• at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, September 27 – Week 3
• vs Miami Dolphins, October 4 – Week 4
• at New Orleans Saints, October 11 – Week 5

“We wanted to be patient and allow Carson to see what opportunities might be out there, but at the same time, Carson knew very on early in offseason, regardless what other moves or move we made in that room, that we wanted him back,” O’Connell said at the NFL owners meetings. “He loved being in Minnesota. He loves our fan base. He loves getting to wear the purple and gold.“

A shoulder injury brought Wentz’s 2025 season with the Vikings to an end. Despite that, he managed to complete 110-of-169 passes (65.1%) for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions across five starts.

The veteran will be one of four members of a crowded QB room for Minnesota this season. Can Carson Wentz earn the starting job, or will he serve as the experienced primary backup for Kevin O’Connell?

QBs must raise the level of the Vikings

The arrival of Kyler Murray and the previously mentioned return of Carson Wentz serve a clear purpose for Kevin O’Connell. The head coach believes this position must raise the bar for the rest of the team.

“We’ve played three guys in one year. We’ve played four in another. We just feel like having the ability to get quality quarterback play throughout the circumstances we do not control throughout the season gives our team pretty historic data that says if we get quarterback play to a certain line, we win a lot of football games,” he started.

“So we wanted to ensure we are able to do that, but also make it a very, very competitive room and that’s regardless of who’s taking reps with what group. We want the quarterback position to elevate our team, and with the talent we have around that position, we feel pretty good about it also working vice versa the other way around.”

The Minnesota Vikings QB room

With a mix of experience and young talent, the Minnesota Vikings have an intriguing quarterback group to head into the 2026 NFL season:

• Kyler Murray
• Carson Wentz
• J.J. McCarthy
• Max Brosmer

Confirmed rivals for Minnesota

Building strength in the NFC North

The Minnesota Vikings enter the 2026 season looking to capitalize on the momentum of their 5-0 finish to last year. Despite a rocky 4-8 start, the team rallied to a 9–8 overall record, finishing with a strong 4–2 record within the NFC North.

While the division remains a “bloodbath” with the Bears and Packers as heavy favorites, the addition of key players provide a significant boost to an offense that struggled with inconsistency in 2025. If Brian Flores’ defense can maintain its top-10 form, Minnesota has a legitimate shot at unseating Chicago for the divisional crown.

Hence, all eyes are on JJ McCarthy’s situation. In fact, after re-signing Wentz, many thought McCarthy’s future was sealed. Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN, the re-signing of Wentz “doesn’t move the needle on whether the team ultimately moves on from J.J. McCarthy. It’s about avoiding the depth emergencies.”

Hence, extrapolating the report, the pecking order will remain with McCarthy over Wentz, though it is speculated that Kyler Murray will be the one under center if all three signal-callers are healthy.

How did Wentz do last season?

Wentz had his chance after McCarthy suffered injuries last season. He ended up starting five games, where the team went 2-3. Still, he looked arguably better than McCarthy. Wentz season even played through a shoulder injury that ended up being a season-ending affair.

Wentz completed 65.1% of his passes for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns and five intereceptions. He had a way better completion percentage than McCarthy, and only 416 yards less despite playing five less games.

Murray should easily distance himself during the preseason

Murray also played just five games last season and had a 2-3 record. However, he had a 68.3 completion percentage, though for only 962 yards, six touchdowns to three picks. Still, he is by far the most talented of the three.

Murray was a first overall pick, and while his career hasn’t been what was expected, he has an educated arm, a well-polished skill set, and a dual-threat capability. Also, he is in his prime athletic years. McCarthy is too raw, and Wentz too old.

“Veteran QB Carson Wentz is re-signing with the Vikings, sources tell The Insiders. So Minnesota’s QB room now features three former top-10 picks: Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy and Wentz, who played well last season before a shoulder injury.”

Head coach Kevin O’Connell appears to have a roster that is just one QB away from being a Super Bowl contender. After letting go of names like Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, he can’t afford to miss anymore.

Who will be Vikings starting QB in 2026?

Kyler Murray would be the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in 2026, although an open competition with J.J. McCarthy is currently expected. In this scenario, Carson Wentz would be an experienced option in case of emergency.

J.J. McCarthy’s future with Vikings

What’s interesting about Carson Wentz in Minnesota is that, as was the case with Murray, it would signal a lack of confidence in J.J. McCarthy. Insider Alec Lewis revealed that in 2025, the Vikings believed Wentz could take them to the playoffs before his injury.

“Carson Wentz, back in Minnesota. The Vikings have rounded out the QB room the way they wanted to. Wentz had a lot of fans internally — many believed they might’ve snuck in playoffs had he stayed healthy.”

Coming off a disappointing campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders, Smith is back in New York—actually, New Jersey—where he started his NFL journey back in 2013. Though excited to have him back in town, the Jets know Smith’s game brings inconsistency with it, and thus acquiring Wentz could help give the team a cushion in case all else fails.

Still, Wentz only appeared in five games in 2025, in which he didn’t exactly play lights-out. Needless to say, a quarterback tandem of Smith and Wentz would mean New York remains filled with uncertainty in 2026. The 2026 NFL Draft has yet to take place, but it’s no wonder why “J-E-T-S” fans are already eyeing the 2027 class, which could have Arch Manning leading the way.

Justin Fields could leave NY Jets

“Justin Fields remains under contract, but that likely will change,” as reported by Rich Cimini of ESPN. Following a scarily inconsistent performance in 2025, the former 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is trending to search for a new home. It would be the fourth time the quarterback hits the real estate business in his six-year career.

Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets, via Spotrac, which runs through the 2026 NFL season. However, New York may not sit around waiting for his deal to expire. Instead, Jets general manager Darren Mougey may take action into his own hands.

Jets face options when it comes to Fields

If Fields won’t be taken into account by New York, it better figure out a way to escape the quarterback’s $23 million cap hit in 2026. In order to do so, the Jets have different options at their disposal. Most likely, any decision will have to wait until June 1st, when the NFL’s new league year begins.

If the Jets release Fields prior to that date, they would take on $22 million on dead cap. A pre 6/1 trade would save New York $11 million, but it would still take on $12 million in dead cap in 2026. Moreover, finding a suitable trade partner for Fields might be unlikely.

Better options for the Jets and Fields

Thus, the more likely options for the Jets are as follows. On the first hand, they could designate Fields as a June 1st release—or simply release him after that date—which would take on a $13 million dead cap for 2026 and a $9 million hit for 2027. It’s a higher price to pay than a trade, but it’s a far easier decision to pull off.

If the Jets trade Fields after June 1st, then it’d be the best solution. New York would save $20 million as it’d take on $3 million in 2026 and $9 million in 2027 in dead cap. Knowing how much money a trade would save the Jets means any team willing to do business with them will likely lowball them, though.

According to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter on ESPN, the belief around the league is that the Vikings would once again look to add an experienced backup for McCarthy. That’s what they did in the offseason by signing Wentz after trading Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles.

With the 2025 NFL trade deadline set for November 4 at 4 PM (ET), word on the street is that Minnesota might make a move in the next few days, and three veteran quarterbacks have emerged as potential candidates.

Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, and Jameis Winston named as potential trade candidates for Vikings

Schefter has linked the Vikings with three veteran options: Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, and Jameis Winston. The first would make sense if we consider his past with the Vikings, where he shined for six seasons from 2018–2023.

However, it’s much easier said than done. Though Raheem Morris has no intention to bench Michael Penix Jr., Cousins is still a reliable backup for the young Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

The Falcons have therefore shown no desire to part with Cousins so far, and on top of that, the financial aspect might be a significant stumbling block. Cousins is under a four-year, $180 million contract; a deal he signed with Atlanta after leaving Minnesota as a free agent in 2024.

Schefter also mentioned the two veterans in the Giants’ QB room, with both Wilson and Winston working behind sensational rookie Jaxson Dart in NY. Wilson entered the season as the starter but lost his job after only three weeks, whereas Winston has so far been limited to the third-string role.

Vikings QB depth chart behind McCarthy with Wentz injured

A change of scenery could favor any of them before the trade deadline, and the Vikings could use their experience behind McCarthy. Right now, the other healthy quarterbacks in Minnesota are undrafted rookie Max Brosmer and veteran journeyman John Wolford, who joined the Vikings’ practice squad after Wentz went down with a season-ending shoulder injury.

John Wolford — who hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy alongside Matthew Stafford’s Rams — is joining the Vikings’ practice squad. From here on out, Minnesota isn’t leaving anything to chance.

The news was initially revealed by NFL insider Tom Pelissero, who reported the move on his official X account (formerly Twitter) before the Vikings confirmed it on their official website. It’s an intriguing addition for a team looking to make a serious push for the NFC North crown.

“The Vikings are signing veteran QB John Wolford to the practice squad, per sources. Wolford was coached by Kevin O’Connell with the Rams and spent training camp this year with KOC protege Grant Udinski in Jacksonville. Some experienced depth behind J.J. McCarthy,” Pelissero wrote.

The former Wake Forest standout joins Minnesota after a stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he played alongside Trevor Lawrence. Originally drafted by the New York Jets in 2018, Wolford also spent time outside the NFL with the Arizona Hotshots before returning to the league, where apart from the Rams, he also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A ring in his pocket

While Matthew Stafford orchestrated the championship drive, backup QB John Wolford secured his place as an NFL title winner as the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

What happened to Carson Wentz?

The Minnesota Vikings have placed quarterback Carson Wentz on Injured Reserve, confirming he will undergo season-ending surgery on his left, non-throwing shoulder. Wentz, who was filling in for the injured J.J. McCarthy, reportedly played through a severe injury—including a dislocated shoulder, torn labrum, and fractured socket—over the last few games.

His remarkable toughness was on full display, but the pain, described by Wentz as “quite possibly” the worst of his career, proved too much. The veteran signal-caller’s season ends abruptly, leaving the QB depth chart in a state of flux as the Vikings look to have McCarthy back in the starting lineup.

Updated Vikings QB depth chart

With Wolford joining the practice squad, the Vikings now have three healthy quarterbacks. J.J. McCarthy leads the QB room, with undrafted rookie Max Brosmer currently behind him on the depth chart. Wolford, however, might compete for the backup role now that he’s in Minnesota.

Tom Pelissero was the first to report the end of the season for Wentz on X: “Vikings QB Carson Wentz will undergo surgery on his left shoulder and miss the rest of the 2025 season, sources tell The Insiders. Wentz gutted it out as long as he could. But he was in severe pain Thursday night in L.A. and now will get the shoulder fixed.”

At the same time, the NFL insider revealed that McCarthy is expected to be ready to return: “J.J. McCarthy is expected to be ready to return to the lineup this week.” Meanwhile, Brosmer will remain an option for the Vikings as the backup.

Brosmer’s pro experience in the NFL

So far, Max Brosmer has limited experience in the NFL, having participated in three games. He has accumulated a total of 42 yards and has yet to throw a single touchdown. However, he has completed the majority of his eight professional passes, holding a 62.5% completion rate.

In his short time playing college football with Minnesota, Brosmer spent only one year but managed 2,828 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. This output was apparently enough to catch the attention of the NFL, leading him to receive an opportunity with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent.

McCarthy had high hopes for the Vikings this year

It is worth recalling that before the season began, J.J. McCarthy had commented that he was more than ready to capitalize on all the talent the Vikings had to offer, and confident that the coaches were doing a good job, he was prepared to trust the franchise’s process.

“The roster is stacked with talent, and the coaches put us in the right spots. My job is to execute, get the ball to the playmakers, and trust the guys around me. That frees me up to just play the game the right way,” McCarthy told CBS Sports in early September.

“When you’re the captain of the ship, you’re the quarterback, you gotta try to hold some of that emotion in,” Herbstreit said during the Vikings-Chargers game. “And I know he’s frustrated, and he’s hurt, but it’s Week 7. There’s a long way to go…”

Herbstreit admitted that he knew it had been a rough night for Wentz, but his raw, heavy comment focused on how the quarterback, as the face of the team, should be reacting in front of his teammates.

He even suggested that if Justin Jefferson acted similarly, the reaction would be widespread: “If Jefferson does that… is probable on SportsCenter, everywhere…. social media, ‘What’s wrong with this guy?’… quarterback does that is worst, because, like I say, you’re the guy, the leader….”

Was Herbstreit a quarterback?

Yes, Herbstreit was a quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He had a short career playing college football, but it was enough for him to compile 2,263 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions over 38 games. He never played in the NFL.

What happens to the Vikings without Wentz?

Things could become seriously complicated for the Vikings without Wentz. They were forced to use their third-string quarterback during the game against the Chargers, as Max Brosmer finished the game with just 13 yards and three completed passes. It is likely he will receive another opportunity in Week 9.