Kyler Murray Clears Protocol Just in Time to Save the Vikings From Themselves

The Minnesota Vikings are officially getting their quarterback back, which means they might actually remember how to play offense this weekend.

Tom Pelissero reported Monday that Kyler Murray has cleared concussion protocol and will return to the starting lineup this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Tom Pelissero reported that Murray cleared protocol and will start Sunday."

Murray missed Week 2 after taking a massive hit from Green Bay Packers safety Javon Bullard while trying to slide in the season opener. Without him, the Vikings' offense looked like a group of guys who just met in the stadium parking lot, managing a grand total of nine points in a miserable 9-3 loss to the Chicago Bears.

Now, Murray gets to return against a Tampa Bay squad that is currently sitting at 0-2 after dropping a 23-19 game to the Cleveland Browns. Vegas clearly thinks Murray is the difference between a functional football team and whatever Minnesota was last week, with sportsbooks like FanDuel pushing the Vikings to 2.5-point road favorites.

Of course, the real question with Murray is always how long he stays on the field. His medical chart reads like a CVS receipt at this point, featuring a torn ACL in 2022, a season-ending foot injury in 2025, and now a Week 1 concussion.

When he plays, he is electric, but relying on him for a full 17-game slate requires a level of blind faith usually reserved for lottery tickets.

For now, the Vikings just need him to survive Sunday in Tampa Bay. If Murray can stay upright and avoid taking any more unnecessary shots to the helmet, Minnesota should have no problem handling a desperate Bucs team trying to avoid an 0-3 crater.