Kyler Murray Out as Vikings Host Bills on MNF

Kyler Murray did not practice once this week, and on Saturday the Minnesota Vikings made it final: their quarterback is out for Monday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills. Testing showed a Grade 2 hamstring strain, NBC Sports reported, and Murray will likely miss multiple games. Carson Wentz gets the start at U.S. Bank Stadium.

This is a heavyweight Monday. Minnesota is 6-1, Buffalo is 6-1, and the Vikings now have to win it with their backup under center and a defense that has carried them for two months.

Wentz Has Been Here Before

Wentz already has two wins on his ledger this season. He came on in Week 1 when Murray left the opener in concussion protocol and led the comeback against Green Bay, then started the next week in the rain at Chicago. Minnesota opened 2-0 in the division with him.

The numbers were modest. Wentz completed 23 of 39 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns across those two games, per NFL.com, and he stayed under 150 passing yards in both. He did not need more, because the defense did the heavy lifting.

Coach Kevin O’Connell called the injury a week-to-week issue on Thursday and said he did not want to risk Murray turning it into something worse given how much he relies on his legs. Max Brosmer backs up Wentz. The team is also reportedly exploring the trade market ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

The Jefferson Question

The offense has been the problem all year. With Murray, Minnesota ranks 29th in yards per game, 31st in passing and 27th in scoring at 20 points a game, according to NFL.com. NBC Sports noted that Justin Jefferson has struggled to build chemistry with Murray in their first season together.

Wentz made his plan plain this week. “He’s as good as it gets at his position, and … I want to get him the rock as much as anybody,” he said, while adding he would not force it. Jefferson will also see a thinner receiver room, with Jauan Jennings (calf) and running back Demond Claiborne (knee) ruled out on Saturday’s final report.

The Defense Carries the Load

Minnesota allows a league-best 13.3 points per game. It blitzes at a 73.1 percent rate, more than 30 points higher than any other team, and leads the NFL with a 45.8 percent pressure rate. That is the unit that has to slow Buffalo.

The Bills are banged up too. Receiver Joshua Palmer (hamstring) is out, and left tackle Dion Dawkins (rib) is questionable after missing every practice this week. A shaky edge against that blitz rate is the matchup to watch Monday night.

If the Vikings get to 7-1 with Wentz, nobody in Minnesota will be asking about the trade deadline. They will be asking how long Murray really needs.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Justin Jefferson receptions against Buffalo. Wentz said he wants to get Jefferson the ball as much as anybody, and Jennings is out, which narrows the target tree. If Wentz plays it safe early the way he did in his two September games, keep the lean on Jefferson catches and skip any yardage play.