National Sports

Focus on Murray as Green Bay invades Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kyler Murray became a superstar athlete as a kid growing up in Texas, won the Heisman Trophy with Oklahoma, was the first overall pick by Arizona in the NFL draft in 2019, and made the Pro Bowl after his second and third seasons in the league.

Since then, with a floundering Cardinals team and two major lower-body injuries contributing to the slide, Murray’s career has veered off course. He can’t hide it: His first game as quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon will be a big deal for him.

“Out of how many years I’ve played football, this has got to be right up there for most anticipated. I can’t tell you how ready I am and excited to be on the field again,” said Murray, who was sidelined last October by a foot injury and cut by the Cardinals in March.

The storyline gets even better: The Vikings host the division rival Green Bay Packers, and their new defensive coordinator is Jonathan Gannon, who was Murray’s head coach in Arizona the last three years.

“He’s in a really good offense with some elite players. Obviously I’ve got nothing but love and respect for ‘K1,’ Gannon said, using Murray’s longtime nickname. “He’s competitive. He’s smart. He can make all the throws and beat you with his legs, so it’s a big-time challenge.”

The first-hand experience Gannon had with Murray ought to help the Packers, whose previous defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, became head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

“Obviously he’s a playmaker. You know that,” safety Xavier McKinney said. “He can extend plays with his feet, and we also know he can make the throws down the field as well.”

After a severe regression last season while J.J. McCarthy struggled to stay healthy and in rhythm during his debut, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is more than eager to get his passing game back on track. Murray’s frequent connections with star wide receiver Justin Jefferson during training camp provided some promise.

Need to know

Green Bay (9-8-1) at Minnesota (9-8)

TV: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT, CBS

Latest odds: Vikings by 1½

Last meeting: Vikings beat Packers 16-3 on Jan. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis

Series record: Packers lead 67-61-3.

Top matchup

Green Bay’s running game vs. Minnesota’s defensive front. The Packers will play without three-time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs, who’s on hiatus while a case of alleged domestic violence moves through the court system and the league discipline process. Everyone else on the roster is unproven, with MarShawn Lloyd atop the depth chart for now.

The Vikings have a young defensive line led by Jalen Redmond, after dumping veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in favor of Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and Levi Drake Rodriguez. The interior trio has just 20 career starts combined, with Redmond accounting for 17.