Watch: Murphy Jr., Rodgers react to Murray being named Vikings starting QB

Vikings cornerbacks Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers spoke with KSTP Sports about the team’s decision to name Kyler Murray starting quarterback.

***Click the video box above to watch our chats with Murphy Jr. and Rodgers***

With 87 starts over seven years in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, two Pro Bowl selections and a unique elusiveness that has fueled 3,193 career rushing yards, Murray was going to have to either get hurt or badly struggle with his grasp of Kevin O’Connell’s offense for McCarthy to keep the job.

An earlier end to the audition was always going to be ideal for Murray, too, in the familiarization process with a layered playbook that asks more of the quarterback than most teams in the league.

Based purely on performance in open-to-the-public practices, this depth chart battle was more even than not. But the Vikings have clearly been cognizant of the downside to splitting ...