EAGAN, Minn. -- Carson Wentz will be the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback Sunday against the Chicago Bears, coach Kevin O'Connell said Friday, while Kyler Murray continues to work his way back from a concussion he suffered in the Vikings' Week 1 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
Murray suffered the concussion on the 11th play of his debut with the Vikings, at the end of a third-down scramble. He was initially motionless on the turf following a hit from Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness and safety Javon Bullard. Multiple teammates nearby said his body was in a fencing posture, a common immediate side effect of brain trauma.
Murray eventually walked off the field under his own power, and was seen later chatting with teammates and coaches in the postgame locker room.
He participated in all three practices this week, and O'Connell said he "fully anticipates" Murray clearing the protocol next week, which would put him on track to start in Week 3 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Kyler made a lot of progress," O'Connell said. "He's doing well and felt good this week working through it."
The news marks the 11th time the Vikings have changed starting quarterbacks during a season in O'Connell's five-year tenure. Most of those moves were necessitated by injuries, including those to Week 1 starters Kirk Cousins in 2023 and J.J. McCarthy in 2025.
Wentz started five games in place of McCarthy last season, posting a 2-3 record, before undergoing season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. The Vikings re-signed Wentz one week after signing Murray in March in an effort to ensure better depth at the position. Murray won a training camp competition with McCarthy for the starting job, and O'Connell decided that he preferred Wentz in the backup role because of his experience.
That decision passed the test in Week 1, when Wentz completed 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns after replacing Murray against the Packers.
"It was a good week with the guys," Wentz said. "Good to get a lot of reps in and even just building the game plan, being part of all the conversations a little bit more this week."
Meanwhile, the Vikings won't have receiver Jauan Jennings against the Bears. Jennings missed the practice week to attend to a family matter. Right tackle Brian O'Neill, who suffered a knee injury in practice Wednesday and sat out Thursday, returned to practice on a limited basis Friday and is listed as questionable on the injury report.
O'Connell said O'Neill is "doing well" and appeared optimistic that he will play against the Bears.