Kyler Murray — Week 1: Five Throws, One Picked, Then Out
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 14
Murray started, completed three of five throws for eighteen yards with an interception on his second snap, scrambled twice for nine yards, and did not play after a scramble with six sixteen left in the first quarter; he was ruled out with a concussion, per Lindsey Young at Vikings.com. Carson Wentz took the remaining twenty-two Vikings pass plays and threw three touchdowns, in a 39–22 win over the Packers.
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Kyler Murray's second snap as a Viking was intercepted. First quarter, 14 23 left, second and 11 at the Minnesota 34, no score: deep right for Jauan Jennings, picked off by Keisean Nixon at the Green Bay 36 and returned 11 yards to the 47. That play was worth −4.1 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and −7 points of win probability, the chance of winning after the play against before it. It was Minnesota's only turnover, and Green Bay kicked the opening field goal from it.
The rest of his day is a drive and a half. First and 10 at the 30, incomplete short right, no receiver listed. Third and four at the 36, short right to Justin Jefferson for nine and a first down, +1.5. Second and 14 at the 41, a scramble around left end for seven. Third and 17 at the 38, short right to T.J. Hockenson for seven, and a punt. Then, down nine to nothing: second and nine at the 31, short left to Jefferson for two, and third and seven at the 33 with six 16 left, a scramble to the right end for two yards, +15 for unnecessary roughness on Javon Bullard. That was his last play. He left after the hit on that scramble and was ruled out with a concussion, per Lindsey Young at Vikings.com; Carson Wentz played the rest of the game. The line: three of five for 18 yards, one interception, no sacks, −4.5 expected points on five pass plays; two scrambles, nine yards, +2.3.
The passing game he left was Wentz's for 22 pass plays. Minnesota threw for a hundred 51 yards, 18 of them Murray's, and all three passing touchdowns were Wentz's: 39 yards deep left to Jefferson with two oh two left in the half, down 12 to three; 16 yards deep middle to Hockenson on third and eight with two 11 left in the third, down 22 to 10; and nine yards short right to Jefferson on third and five with four oh three left, up 32 to 22. Wentz was sacked three times and carried twice for two yards. The targets went nine to Jefferson, five to Hockenson, four to Josh Oliver, two to Jordan Addison, one each to Aaron Jones, DeeJay Dallas and Jennings, one with no receiver; the 27 pass plays came out at −0.5 expected points, touchdowns and all.
Back in June the preview called Murray a watchlist: the seventeenth quarterback at pick one 13 with no starting job yet, a career floor built on his legs, and one condition: a named starting job, with J.J. McCarthy the alternative. By Sunday he had the job, McCarthy was listed among the inactives as the third quarterback per Craig Peters at Vikings.com, and the play-by-play holds five throws and two scrambles. That is not a sample of anything. Minnesota is at the Bears on Sunday the twentieth.
_Data via nflverse._
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