Vikings Sit Kyler Murray With Hamstring Strain, Start Carson Wentz Against Bills

Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell announced Thursday in Eagan, Minnesota, that Carson Wentz will start at quarterback Monday night against the Buffalo Bills because Kyler Murray has a hamstring strain and will miss at least the next game. O'Connell said Murray was evaluated Monday and had imaging, and that the team does not expect more than a week-to-week issue. He said playing Murray now would risk turning it into a more significant injury, given how Murray moves and plays. Max Brosmer will be the backup. The Vikings lost their first game of the season Sunday in Detroit, and earlier in the week O'Connell had committed to Murray as the starter. Murray has a 64.9 percent completion rate and an 86.6 rating, and has 167 rushing yards in six games this season with no rushing touchdown. Wentz has thrown passes in two games for Minnesota this year, including 133 yards and three fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a Week 1 comeback win over the Packers.

The Washington Post, the left-leaning outlet here, leads with the injury and the roster decision: Murray sits, Wentz starts, and O'Connell made the announcement. Its excerpt contains no performance statistics or criticism of Murray. The right-leaning New York Post and Fox News both treat the move as a benching in practice. The Post says many expected a benching over poor play and lists Murray's career-low numbers, Justin Jefferson's 335 receiving yards and trade-market rumors. Fox calls it a soft benching and stresses O'Connell's earlier commitment to Murray, while also giving his full injury explanation. All agree on the hamstring strain, Wentz starting and the Monday game against Buffalo. They differ on whether the injury or Murray's play is the main story. Yahoo Sports adds a separate angle, Minnesota's quarterback instability in three of the last four seasons.