There is a new level of excitement among the Minnesota Vikings fan base as Kyler Murray enters the quarterback battle.
Murray and J.J. McCarthy will spend the next three months fighting to take the QB1 job for at least the start of the 2026 season, with Murray being the favorite to win it, but there's going to be a major challenge he will be facing. Bleacher Report writer Brad Gagnon knows what Murray's biggest obstacle is going to be entering his first year with the Vikings: his durability.
"Not only will the soon-to-be 29-year-old Murray be trying to fight off young J.J. McCarthy while getting acclimated to a new offense, but he'll be doing so while trying to stay healthy. And that has always been the top obstacle for a guy who has missed more than a handful of games in three of his last four seasons."
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray must try to stay healthy for 2026 season
Two of the last three seasons have seen Murray play fewer than eight games in a year as the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback. In 2023, he played in just eight games after missing six games the previous season with a torn ACL he was recovering from, and he missed 12 games last year due to a foot injury.
The Vikings need to get different results from Murray, as they have dealt with J.J. McCarthy's own serious injuries over the last two seasons. McCarthy missed all of 2024 with a meniscus injury and last year had multiple injuries, including a high ankle sprain, concussion, and a fracture in his hand.
Murray will have to be careful with his legs, as that is a big part of his game and a key way to take advantage of his athleticism. The lower-leg injuries over the years have kept him from staying on the field and helping his team win.
Minnesota's success in 2026 hinges on Murray staying on the field and leading a Vikings offense that needs stability at quarterback after three different starters in 2025. The Vikings could find themselves in a hole if Murray can't stay healthy and McCarthy is forced onto the field again.
Add us as a preferred source on Google