Vikings Name Carson Wentz Starter vs. Bills; Kyler Murray Week-to-Week With Hamstring

Carson Wentz will start Monday night. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Wentz gets the call against the Buffalo Bills, with Kyler Murray sidelined by a hamstring injury that O'Connell described as "not much more than a week-to-week kind of thing," NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported.

Minnesota does not want to risk making the injury worse by playing him. Asked whether injured reserve is a possibility for Murray, O'Connell said it is "not under consideration at all." Max Brosmer will back up Wentz, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.

Murray was already dealing with a sore hamstring earlier in the week, and Thursday's announcement locks in the change for a prime-time matchup. The Vikings are 6-1 and alone atop the NFC North. Murray has started six games this season, completing 100 of 154 passes for 1,022 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 167 rushing yards. His mobility is central to O'Connell's offense, which is why the team is holding him out rather than asking him to play through it.

Wentz has already shown he can run this system when healthy. In two appearances this season, including one start, he is 23 of 39 for 276 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions (106.4 passer rating) and went 1-0 as a starter. Now he draws one of the AFC's top defenses on Monday Night Football, with Minnesota hosting Buffalo on Nov. 9.