Let's say for a second Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell did "soft bench" Kyler Murray, as some fans had theorized after the quarterback was diagnosed with a hamstring injury and ruled out for Monday's game against the Bills. After watching how poorly Carson Wentz performed in place of Murray, O'Connell would need to be fired immediately for that decision.
Taking a bad offense and making it that much worse would be sabotage.
Fortunately for O'Connell, Wentz's awful game (8-25 passing, 81 yards, 2 interceptions) is the best evidence yet Murray actually is injured. Because there's no way a coach would subject his team to what we saw Monday night if he didn't have to, right? ... RIGHT?
TRADE BLOCK: Vikings QB options at the deadline
I sure
hope so. Maybe that's giving O'Connell credit he doesn't deserve, but I refuse to believe anyone would voluntarily sign up for that. Especially someone who should know Wentz well enough not to trust him.
In five starts last season, Wentz went 2-3 with six touchdowns and five interceptions. Not awful, but far from a savior. And his two games without a turnover were each followed by a game with two interceptions. So, O'Connell had to know a stinker was in the tuck after Wentz made through two previous relief appearances this year without a pick.
I refuse to believe a former MVP candidate who hasn't been given an chance to start since 2022 practices so well O'Connell just had to give him a shot.
For O'Connell's sake, that simply can't be true. Because if it is, it would continue a string of what's been awful quarterback management the last couple years from a man who's supposed to be a "QB whisperer." The Vikings let Sam Darnold walk -- only to watch him win a Super Bowl with Seattle. Then, they benched and traded his replacement, J.J. McCarthy, who suddenly looks like a better quarterback than anyone on Minnesota's roster.
To now bench the player you chose over McCarthy -- only to watch his backup get outperformed by a third-stringer in one series (Max Brosmer went 6-7 for 58 yards) -- would be the final straw if it was up to me. But hey, good thing Murray's injury is totally real and not fabricated by a head coach who would never do something so foolish.
Puka Nacua injury dooms Rams
Puka Nacua has joined Davante Adams on the injured reserve list, leaving the Los Angeles Rams with a depleted offense just as the defense was getting healthy with the return of Myles Garrett.
Robert Zeglinski believes this latest injury is the one most likely to doom the Rams:
"Let's be optimistic and say both Nacua and Adams stay on schedule with their recovery timelines. Even then, we're still not seeing the star receivers play again until late November and early December, respectively. In that time, the Rams will host the red-hot Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Eve, host Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs the week after, then head to the Bay Area to face the heavyweight San Francisco 49ers. Woof."
If the Rams want to keep up, they may want to consider trading for one of these receivers potentially available at the deadline.
Quick hits: Jaguars making moves ... CFP expansion ... and more
- The Jaguars are pushing their chips to the middle of the table. Cory Woodroof examines whether Jacksonville's aggressive trade deadline will work out.
- The College Football Playoff has officially expanded to 24 teams, effectively killing conference championship games.
- Jonathan Taylor trade rumors are heating up and the Patriots have emerged as a good fit.
- Check FTW's latest fantasy football waiver wire update for the best rising wide receivers.
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This article originally appeared on For The Win: Carson Wentz’s awful game was the best evidence Kyler Murray is actually hurt
