Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray suffered a concussion during a 39-22 win over the Green Bay Packers after taking a heavy hit on a first-quarter scramble. While Murray entered concussion protocol, right tackle Brian O’Neill expressed regret for not retaliating against Packers safety Javon Bullard on the field.
The hit occurred on a third-and-7 scramble during Sunday’s season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium. Murray slid to the turf as Packers defenders Lukas Van Ness and Javon Bullard collided with him simultaneously. The impact knocked Murray’s helmet off, leaving the veteran quarterback motionless on the ground before he walked off under his own power and exited to the locker room.
Teammates immediately recognized the severity of the collision. Star receiver Justin Jefferson noted that Murray’s body showed a fencing posture, a common immediate indicator of brain trauma.
Obviously somebody hit him while he was down. But as soon as that happened and I saw his reaction to that, it was really just frustration, Justin Jefferson
I hate to see anyone go down with an injury, especially an injury like that. For our starting quarterback to go down that early in that way, it was definitely very tough to see. Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson, Vikings wide receiver
Brian O’Neill and the Discipline That Shaped Minnesota’s First-Half Points
Referees flagged Bullard for unnecessary roughness on the play, extending the Vikings drive and allowing Minnesota to move into field-goal range for its first points of the season. Right tackle Brian O’Neill was one of the first players to arrive and shoved Bullard immediately after the whistle, but admitted after the final whistle that he wished he had taken a more aggressive physical stance against the defender.
It was so bang, bang,
Brian O’Neill, Vikings right tackle, said to reporters after the game, via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.
You don't want to freak out if you're wrong. I was probably wrong to not freak out more than that. So, I kind of wish I took a shot at him.
Brian O’Neill, Vikings right tackle, via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert
Brian O’Neill, Vikings right tackle
While O’Neill confessed he regrets not taking a shot at Bullard, that exact restraint ultimately benefited the scoreboard. Had O’Neill retaliated enough to draw a flag, offsetting penalties would have wiped out the first-down extension. Instead, the disciplined response preserved the possession that initiated Minnesota’s offensive production.
Carson Wentz Stepped In as the Vikings Engineered a 29-Unanswered-Point Comeback
Murray’s afternoon ended abruptly after just 11 plays. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz assumed control of the offense for the remainder of the contest, and the Minnesota Vikings survived with backup quarterback Carson Wentz playing a majority of the game in Week 1 perhaps in part because of the discipline the team showed after Kyler Murray sustained an injury.
Kevin O’Connell Shares Concussion Protocol Updates
Following the game, head coach Kevin O’Connell addressed reporters regarding Murray’s status in the league’s concussion protocol.
I have no update on how those evaluations have gone,
Kevin O’Connell, Vikings head coach, said after the game.
We'll take it day by day and see how he comes in tomorrow.
Kevin O’Connell, Vikings head coach
O’Connell added that Murray seemed to be doing well after the game, but I wouldn't medically quote me on that.
He further noted that his interactions with teammates in the post-game locker room were encouraging.
I don’t have a lot to update,Kevin O'Connell, Vikings head coach, said,
other than I did just see him and he seemed to
Kevin O’Connell, Vikings head coach
