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Murray left in the first quarter of the season opener against Green Bay after getting hit in the head on a third-down scramble.
EAGAN, Minn. — Kyler Murray has cleared the final phase of the concussion protocol and will start Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed Monday.
Murray left in the first quarter of the season opener after two Green Bay Packers defenders converged on the quarterback on a third-down play. Packers safety Javon Bullard was flagged for unnecessary roughness, and Murray was later ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion. Carson Wentz led the Vikings to a comeback victory over the Packers, and then helped Minnesota defeat Chicago 9-3 in Week 2.
Last week, Murray was in team meetings and was a limited participant in practice, but was ultimately ruled out on Friday. Wentz threw for three touchdowns in relief of Murray in the season opener and then led Minnesota to a victory in the rain at Soldier Field.
"Carson wasn't doing crazy things. He was just protecting the football, making good decisions, making some big-time throws when he could, and running the show," O'Connell said Monday. "And I think (Murray) saw some plays get made. I think he saw our team play totally connected and complementary of all of the other two phases, and what that can do for the Minnesota Vikings on a Sunday."
Wentz completed 23 of 39 passes for 276 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. The only time Minnesota has turned the ball over this season came when Murray was intercepted on the second play -- an ill-advised heave into double coverage. Murray went 3 for 4 for 18 yards over the next two drives, but was injured on just his 11th offensive snap.
"Looking back on those first few plays, I would just say there was a third-down conversion where he sat in there, tight completion to Justin," O'Connell said of Murray's play. "He did use his legs and protect himself on another play, and then just going back to that second play, just that's a great example of, 'We can't compound somebody else's error.' .... So we haven't turned it over since, and my expectation is we're going to protect the football and play our role offensively, while continuing to grow and look like the offense we know that we can become."
