Kyler Murray has cleared the NFL concussion protocol and will return as the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback for their Week 3 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Coach Kevin O'Connell announced the decision Monday, restoring Murray to the lineup after he missed Minnesota's 9 to 3 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Vikings enter the matchup with a 2 and 0 record.
Murray gets the offense back
Murray suffered the concussion during the first quarter of the season opener against Green Bay. A hit knocked off his helmet as he slid, and he did not return.
Carson Wentz replaced him and threw three touchdown passes in a 39 to 22 comeback win over the Packers. Wentz then completed 18 of 28 passes for 169 yards against Chicago, helping Minnesota survive a defensive game without committing a turnover.
O'Connell said Murray can build from the way Wentz managed the offense and connected the group during his brief run as the starter. Murray now gets his first complete game opportunity with Minnesota after joining the Vikings during the offseason.
An early test against Tampa Bay
Minnesota will visit a Tampa Bay team that has opened the season with two losses. The Buccaneers are led by Baker Mayfield, creating a matchup between two former Oklahoma quarterbacks.
The Vikings have won with two quarterbacks already, but Murray remains the player chosen to lead the offense. Clearing the protocol gives Minnesota its preferred starter back while allowing Wentz to return to a reserve role after helping protect the unbeaten start.
*Featured image: Kyler Murray during a 2020 NFL game, photographed by All Pro Reels. Licensed under [Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/).*