Kevin O’Connell updates Vikings injuries, offense after Week 8
EAGAN, Minn.
— Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, that Kyler Murray remained sore in his hamstring as the team continued evaluations. O’Connell added that offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw is dealing with shoulder soreness and that defensive back Theo Jackson left the Week 8 game with a quad injury. Minnesota has an extra day before hosting the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football on Nov. 9, which gives the team additional time for game planning and recovery. The coaching staff said it will use the extended week to finish medical checks and set practice plans for the injured players.
O’Connell said the staff is still determining Murray’s availability for the Buffalo game and described the assessments as ongoing. When asked if Murray would remain the starter if he is physically cleared, O’Connell said he would. The coach said the team will provide updates as it progresses through the work week and refines its practice approach based on the evaluations.
O’Connell reviewed the offense’s performance in Detroit, noting encouraging late-game moments as well as mistakes. He highlighted Murray’s 51-yard completion to Jordan Addison and a short touchdown pass to T.J. Hockenson as positive responses late in the game, but he also pointed to a late first-half turnover that led to a Lions field goal. A holding penalty on Will Fries wiped out Jordan Mason’s 29-yard run, and excluding Murray’s four rushes for 35 yards the primary running backs
Aaron Jones Sr., Jordan Mason and DeeJay Dallas averaged about 3.3 yards per carry.
Penalties were another area of concern for the Vikings in Detroit. Minnesota was flagged five times in the game, raising its season total to 39, and 21 of those season flags have been pre-snap infractions. Three of the Week 8 penalties were charged to the offensive line: a false start and an illegal-formation penalty on Brian O’Neill and a holding call on Will Fries. O’Connell said some infractions resulted from technical issues such as a flinch or alignment mistake and stressed the need to eliminate those errors to avoid negative-yardage setbacks.
O’Connell addressed the coach-quarterback relationship and the offensive plan, noting the team often runs plays from the shotgun and is working to align concepts with Murray’s strengths. He said the staff is building comfort between the play-calling and Murray’s in-game preferences and that they will continue to solicit Murray’s input. The coach added that the late-game sequences in Detroit showed the kind of response the team must sustain moving forward.
On leadership, O’Connell called Justin Jefferson an “ultra-competitor” and defended his approach after Jefferson declined to speak with media the day after the loss. O’Connell noted that defenses frequently assign two defenders or double coverage to Jefferson on known passing downs, which creates opportunities for other players to make plays. He credited T.J. Hockenson for producing against those looks and said the offense must have more contributors step up when Jefferson draws extra attention.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The extra day before Monday Night Football gives the Vikings a useful window to complete evaluations on Murray, Darrisaw and Jackson and to determine practice plans that will clarify availability. The offense showed productive late-game sequences, but an inconsistent run game and several costly penalties undermined sustained drives and positive field position. With opponents continuing to allocate extra coverage to Justin Jefferson, Minnesota will need more consistent production from its backfield and complementary receivers to capitalize on those schematic advantages. Check the team’s practice reports this week for clearer indicators on Murray’s status and whether the Vikings can clean up pre-snap issues ahead of the short week.