What happened to Kyler Murray? Why Vikings QB missed Bills game and latest injury update

The Minnesota Vikings have hit a big roadblock before their Monday Night Football game with the Buffalo Bills, as the team's starting quarterback, Kyler Murray, has been ruled out of the game because of a hamstring injury. Murray, 29, got injured in Week 8's loss to the Detroit Lions. Since Murray cannot play, Carson Wentz will step into the starting role and lead the Vikings. Murray's absence comes at a challenging time for Minnesota, raising concerns about his recovery and how the team will cope without him.

Murray's absence was felt as the Buffalo Bills posted a crushing 23-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. Veteran quarterback Carson Wentz, starting in place of the injured Murray, had a tough outing as he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble as the Vikings suffered their second consecutive defeat.

WHAT HAPPENED TO KYLER MURRAY? WHY DID VIKINGS QB MISS BILLS GAME?

According to Heavy, Murray suffered a hamstring strain during the Vikings' 19-15 defeat against the Detroit Lions on November 1. He briefly entered the medical tent during the game before returning to action.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell initially described the problem as hamstring tightness. However, subsequent medical examinations revealed a strain, forcing the team to take a cautious approach. Murray was absent f rom all three of the workouts conducted by the team before their game against Buffalo and was inactive at the start of the game.



O'Connell pointed out the playing style of the quarterback, especially his ability to run outside the pocket, made rushing him back a high-risk endeavor.

According to Yardbarker, Murray's absence was another setback for a Minnesota team that opened the season with six consecutive victories before suffering its first defeat against the Detroit Lions in Week 8.

It also marked Murray's second absence this season due to an injury. Earlier, he sat out the Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears because he suffered a concussion in the season-opener against Green Bay. Prior to the Buffalo game, he had thrown 64.9% of his passes for 1,022 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.

WHEN WILL MURRAY RETURN? WENTZ TAKES OVER AGAINST BILLS

According to Heavy, O'Connell explained that Murray's rehabilitation process was on a week-by-week basis, indicating that the quarterback can make a return sooner than expected if his hamstring recovers well.

Murray has not been placed on Minnesota’s injury list, thus the doors remain open for his return on Sunday when the team faces the Green Bay Packers.

Meanwhile, Wentz took to the field for the second time this year, with Max Brosmer acting as his back-up. The 33-year-old veteran had earlier helped Minnesota beat Green Bay and Chicago.

At the moment, it is unclear whether Murray is available or not for the upcoming games since the Vikings would rather see him heal than get even more hurt.