The Minnesota Vikings took care of business on Sunday, defeating the Chicago Bears on the road at Soldier Field. It was a statement win over a division rival, but it had little to do with the offense, as Minnesota hung on for a narrow 9-3 victory in horrible weather conditions. Carson Wentz completed 11 of 20 passes for 143 yards, and Justin Jefferson was held to a mere 55 receiving yards on three catches.
Aaron Jones was efficient on the ground, rushing for 105 yards on 23 carries, but the real star of the show was the Vikings defense, holding Chicago's high-powered offense to just 297 total yards, forcing two turnovers, and keeping them out of the red zone. With Week 2 now in the rearview, all eyes have turned to the status of Kyler Murray, who sat out Sunday with a concussion. ESPN's Adam Schefter offered the latest update on Monday's episode of "The Pat McAfee Show." "I think they expect that he's going to clear [concussion] protocol this week if there are no setbacks, and he will be back on the field next week," Schefter said.
"Now, again, they're 2-0 as well, and they're playing pretty well, but I think the feeling would be to go back to Kyler [Murray] at some point here, and it sounds like that could happen as soon as this week." More news: Latest Caleb Williams Injury Update May Have Saved the Bears’ Season Murray returning in Week 3 was the expectation after he went down with the concussion in Week 1. It was too serious an injury to play through, but it's been widely viewed as no more than a one-week absence. Still, this may not be the news Vikings fans were necessarily hoping to hear.
Minnesota is now undefeated with Wentz as the starter, and while he didn't do much against the Bears on Sunday, he looked sharp in Week 1, repeatedly connecting with Jefferson. In the Vikings' season opener against the Packers, a dramatic 39-22 comeback win in Minnesota, Wentz finished 12 of 19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions. Jefferson led all Vikings receivers with 92 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches, and the offense was humming in the second half.
More news: Kyle Shanahan Delivers Blunt Brandon Aiyuk Verdict Amid 49ers WR Injury Woes More news: Saints WR Chris Olave Makes Wild Claim About Tyler Shough After Ravens Upset Wentz was thrust into the spotlight after entering the game as the backup, taking over when Murray went down early with a concussion, a pretty impressive performance for a player who entered the summer as the team's third-string quarterback. All eyes will be on how well Murray progresses through the concussion protocol this week, but it feels like he'll be named the starter when the Vikings travel to Tampa Bay on Sunday to face the Buccaneers.
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