Kyler Murray might have a tough time getting his starting job back with the Minnesota Vikings, even after he's healthy, and Kevin O'Connell's latest comments about Kirk Cousins aren't going to make him feel any better about his situation.
The Vikings didn't trade for Cousins just to have another experienced quarterback hanging around while Murray recovers from his hamstring injury. They brought him back because they believe he can help them win games right now.
Minnesota Vikings have a new quarterback plan that doesn't involve Kyler Murray starting
O'Connell didn't exactly leave much room for a quarterback battle, either. When asked during Wednesday's press conference whether Murray would get a chance to compete for the starting job once he's healthy, the Vikings head coach answered, "I don’t think you can have a competition during the season."
That's probably not what Murray wanted to hear, but you also can’t argue with O'Connell's thinking.
The Viking Age graded the trade that saw Minnesota give up a 2027 third-round pick to get Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders. That's a pretty significant price to pay for someone who's only supposed to keep the seat warm for a few weeks.
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Cousins also isn't walking into unfamiliar territory. He knows O'Connell's offense; he's played with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, and he understands what the Vikings want from their quarterback.
For a Minnesota team sitting at 6-2 and trying to stay in the NFC North race, having someone who can step in without needing to learn everything from scratch is a pretty big deal.
O'Connell isn't giving up on Murray despite Vikings' quarterback change
When asked what happened with Murray, O’Connell didn’t seem ready to answer, though he had to know the question was coming.
"The times when he was comfortable, he was throwing completions, he was using his athleticism both on schedule and off, both as a passer and as a -- I mean, we saw some critical, critical plays with him using his legs.
“It was just the amount of actual snaps. When you really realize how healthy, when he was healthy, when he was able to have consistent preparation, it just was not, it hasn't been ideal. But I wouldn't by any stretch say that that's a complete thing. It just happened."
Murray has dealt with a concussion and a hamstring injury this season, making it difficult for him to get the kind of practice time and game experience he needs to settle into Minnesota's offense.
It's tough to expect a quarterback to develop chemistry with his receivers and get everything running smoothly when he's constantly dealing with injuries.
And despite the Cousins trade, the Vikings coach isn't ready to give up on Murray.
"He knows I believe in him. I believe in Kyler [Murray]. Just like I believe in Carson [Wentz]. I believe in Max [Brosmer]. I just want him to get healthy and get back to work because you just never know."
So, Murray isn't necessarily out of Minnesota's plans. But being part of those plans and actually getting back on the field as the starter are two very different things.
If Cousins comes in and gets the Vikings' offense rolling, why would O'Connell want to mess with that just because Murray is healthy again?
That doesn't mean Cousins has officially been handed the job for the rest of the season. Injuries happen, quarterbacks struggle, and plans change pretty quickly in the NFL.
And if Cousins starts winning games with Jefferson and company, Murray might find himself in a situation where getting healthy is only the first step toward earning another opportunity.
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