The Vikings are turning back to Carson Wentz for Monday night.

Coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Kyler Murray will sit out the prime-time game against the Buffalo Bills with a hamstring strain. Wentz will start. Max Brosmer will back him up.

"After evaluating Kyler on Monday, getting some imagery and things, we did determine he does have a hamstring strain," O'Connell said. "We don't believe it to be more than a week-to-week kind of thing right now, but for him, his movement skills and the way he plays the game, we do feel like we'd be putting him at risk of possibly turning this into a more significant injury than it is by trying to have him work through it here early on."

A starter they already trust

"Obviously there's a ton of confidence in Carson," O'Connell added. "He's already helped us — had a major role in two wins this year against two really good teams. He's a steady presence and a guy we know."

Wentz replaced Murray in Week 1 after Murray left early in the concussion protocol and helped Minnesota come back to beat Green Bay. He started the next week in the rain at Chicago. Those were back-to-back division wins to open the year.

Murray returned in Week 3 and has started and played every snap of the past five games. The strain showed up on a read-option run early in the fourth quarter of last Sunday's 19-15 loss to the Detroit Lions. He also struggled to find open receivers. Justin Jefferson declined to speak with reporters afterward.

O'Connell said putting Murray on injured reserve is not a consideration. Minnesota is 6-1 and Buffalo is 6-1. The Vikings will practice Thursday, Friday and Saturday before the Monday game.

Since Wentz signed in August 2025 he has started six games and played most of a seventh. Minnesota is 4-3 in those games. He has completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 1,492 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. Jefferson has 44 catches for 615 yards and two scores with Wentz in those seven games.

O'Connell also said safety Theo Jackson will not practice Thursday because of a quad injury. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw will practice.