Bills at Vikings on Monday Night Football: Carson Wentz Starts for Minnesota With Kyler Murray Out
Two 6-1 teams meet at 8:15 p.m. ET, but Minnesota's backup quarterback starts, Jauan Jennings is out and Buffalo has its own offensive line worries, with the Bills favoured by about three and a half.
Monday, November 9, 2026/2 min read
Monday night's game was billed all week as two 6-1 teams, the league's best scoring offence against its best scoring defence. It has lost a little of that shine. Kyler Murray is out with a hamstring injury, so Carson Wentz is expected to start at quarterback for Minnesota as the Buffalo Bills visit US Bank Stadium, with kickoff at 8:15 p.m. ET (01:15 UTC on Tuesday), according to the injury preview at Banged Up Bills.
Who is playing quarterback for the Vikings against the Bills?
Murray was ruled out on Thursday after the team first described hamstring soreness, and the Vikings did not try to bring him back to practice later in the week, that preview says. Wentz is the expected starter. The Vikings also expect to be without wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who strained a calf in Thursday's practice, and running back Demond Claiborne, who has a knee injury. Safety Theo Jackson is questionable with a quadriceps problem, picked up in the loss to Detroit on 1 November, which was Minnesota's first of the season (our report).
The point total and spread have moved with the news. A preview carried by Yahoo Sports had Buffalo at minus 3.5 with a total of 45.5, down from a 48.5 opener, while ESPN's scoreboard listing showed the Bills at minus 3 and a total of 43.5, so check the number at your book of choice before kickoff.
What are the Bills missing?
Buffalo is not whole either. Wide receiver Josh Palmer has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Left tackle Dion Dawkins, who hurt his ribs against the Ravens, and guard Alec Anderson, who rolled an ankle, are both questionable, and the Banged Up Bills author does not expect either to play. Reserve lineman Armaj Reed-Adams could make his NFL debut if both are out, and Austin Corbett is expected to start at guard. The author also lists Greg Gaines (calf) as unlikely to play.
That matters because of who is across the line. The Yahoo preview describes Minnesota's defence as the league leader in sack rate and pressure rate, and says it allows 13.3 points a game, while Buffalo scores 33.3. Allen is also a running threat, with nine rushing touchdowns listed.
What should we watch on Monday night?
Three things. First, Wentz against a Buffalo defence with turnovers on its mind: the Bills have given the ball away 11 times, per the same preview, so ball security is a theme on both sides. Second, whether Buffalo's reshuffled line can hold up against that pass rush. Third, James Cook and the run game against Minnesota's run defence, another matchup the preview highlights.
ESPN's scoreboard shows this as the last game of Week 9. Whoever wins goes to 7-1, and the loser drops to 6-2 with a short week of questions about its depth.
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