Vikings Name Carson Wentz Starter for Monday Night vs. Bills

Carson Wentz will replace Kyler Murray as the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback for Monday's game against the Buffalo Bills due to Murray's hamstring injury.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Thursday that Carson Wentz will start Monday night's game against the Buffalo Bills. Starting quarterback Kyler Murray has been ruled out due to a strained hamstring suffered during a read-option play in the fourth quarter of a 19-15 loss to the Detroit Lions last Sunday. Murray, who currently ranks 26th among 30 qualified quarterbacks with a 44.7 QBR, has run only 13 times over his last five starts.

Wentz has appeared in seven games for Minnesota since signing in August 2025, leading the team to a 4-3 record in those contests. During that span, he has completed 63.9% of his passes for 1,492 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions. The veteran quarterback has established a productive connection with receiver Justin Jefferson, who has recorded 44 receptions for 615 yards and two touchdowns in games played with Wentz.

O'Connell stated that the team is not considering placing Murray on injured reserve, describing the injury as a week-to-week concern. The coach noted that while Murray could potentially play from the pocket, the risk to his explosive and quick-twitch movement skills necessitated the benching to avoid a more significant injury. This transition marks the 14th time Minnesota has changed starting quarterbacks since Kirk Cousins suffered an Achilles injury midway through the 2023 season.