Vikings' O'Connell says he doesn't fault Packers for hit on Murray

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  Kevin SeifertSep 14, 2026, 03:41 PM ET

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  Kevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.

EAGAN, Minn. -- The hit that caused Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray's concussion was a "violent, physical play" but was not objectionable, coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday.

"It would be one thing if there was a headfirst slide and a clear declaration [of giving himself up," O'Connell said. "But I don't put any fault on anybody there."

The injury occurred on the Vikings' 11th offensive snap in Sunday's 39-22 victory over the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. At the end of a third-down scramble, Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness and safety Javon Bullard converged on him. As Murray started going to the ground, contact from Van Ness began to dislodge his helmet. Bullard then hit Murray's head with his right shoulder and forearm.

Murray initially was motionless on the turf, and multiple teammates nearby said his body was in a fencing posture, which is a common immediate side effect of brain trauma. Murray eventually walked off the field under his own power.

The Vikings placed Murray in the concussion protocol, but he was feeling well enough to chat with teammates and coaches in the postgame locker room. On Monday, O'Connell said that Murray was feeling "pretty good" and did not rule him out of being available for the Vikings' Week 2 game at the Chicago Bears.

"He was in meetings today," O'Connell said. "He's not having the type of symptoms where he's not able to be in meetings or things like that. He's able to watch the tape, and we'll just take it a day at a time and see how he's doing and make the determination when that time comes."

Carson Wentz, who replaced Murray against the Packers and threw three touchdown passes, would start against the Bears if Murray does not clear the protocol in time. J.J. McCarthy would be the backup. Second-year quarterback Max Brosmer is on the practice squad.