Exclusive: Chad Greenway Addresses Vikings’ Quarterback Situation Amid Kyler Murray Injury

Key points

• Discussing JJ McCarthy’s future, Greenway said: “It’s probably pretty safe to say that he may be an option for a trade down the pipeline here.”
• On Brian Flores, and if he might get a chance to be a HC again elsewhere one day: “There’s no question, with what he does and if the Vikings defense can have another great year, that he’s going to have a lot of attention brought his way. He’s a good football coach. He’s gonna continue to get opportunities, I’m sure.”
• On what might be the deciding factor in the Vikings contest against the Bears on September 20: “Caleb Williams is really good out in the pocket with movement and running and athleticism and running the football. How do you contain him? That’s really the story of this game.”

The Minnesota Vikings opened the 2026 campaign with a rather improbable victory over the Green Bay Packers, as they overcame an early injury to Kyler Murray and a very slow start on offense to pick up a huge 39-22 win.

Minnesota showed itself well in this game, but it’s clear that some big questions, particularly at the quarterback position, are going to linger heading into Week 2.

Fans everywhere were thrilled to see the Vikings stage a furious fourth-quarter rally in Week 1 against the Packers, with that group including one of the team’s former Pro Bowl linebackers, Chad Greenway.

After spending his entire 10-year career in Minnesota, Greenway has continued to keep tabs on the team, and like many other folks, he has high hopes for what this group can accomplish in 2026.

As we saw last season, though, much of the Vikings’ success will depend on the production they get from the quarterback position, and with Murray’s status for Week 2 up in the air, that has put the team in a tough spot.

If he can’t play, that means Wentz will be back in action for a tough matchup against the Chicago Bears, and while he’s not the flashiest option, Greenway believes he is more than capable of getting the job done.

“Carson’s done a really nice job in this secondary role,” Greenway said in an exclusive interview on behalf of Audacy’s new show ‘Inside The North‘, which will see him contribute as the Vikings representative throughout the year.

“(He) did the same thing last year for the Vikings in spot duty. Not everybody is going to be super excited about that’s the option you have going into the game, but the reality is he can play well enough to give you a chance to win this game.”

Of course, the Vikings have another quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, at their disposal, but he is firmly entrenched as the No. 3 option behind Murray and Wentz for the time being.

Trade rumors have swirled around McCarthy after his disappointing rookie campaign, and now that he has repeatedly been passed over in favor of both Murray and Wentz, Greenway believes that a trade could be on the table for him down the line. 

“It’s probably pretty safe to say that he may be an option for a trade down the pipeline here,” Greenway admitted.

“He’s going to be on the block, and I have to believe if the decision was made because you don’t want him to get hurt because there’s an option out there to move him, then obviously, that’s what they’re leaning towards. They kind of showed their cards a little.”

How Vikings’ Quarterback Drama Will Impact Rest of the Team

The quarterback position is the most important position in the game of football, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that how the Vikings handle this spot will have an impact on the rest of the roster.

Perhaps the guy who will be impacted the most is star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who clearly struggled to handle the lack of production he received from Minnesota’s quarterbacks in 2025.

In Week 1, though, Jefferson looked like his old self, as he caught eight passes for 92 yards and a pair of scores. Most of that work came while Wentz was under center, so there’s reason to believe he can remain productive, even if Murray has to miss time.

In Greenway’s opinion, though, it’s going to be up to the rest of Minnesota’s offense to help take some of the attention off of Jefferson, as that is what will truly open up things for this unit.

“Every defense knows the Vikings are trying to target Jefferson,” Greenway bluntly stated. “You need to have a quarterback that can find those spots where he does get singled.

“You can find those spots when you get him in one-on-ones, and also not heavily rely on him to get the game broken open. Can you get Jordan Addison or (T.J.) Hockenson involved, the running game involved?”

On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Brian Flores is once again looking to prove he is worthy of receiving a second shot as a head coach in the NFL.

An ongoing lawsuit against the NFL may not be helping his quest to achieve that goal, but each offseason, he continues to draw interest from teams across the league. He hasn’t gotten the head coaching gig he’s looking for yet, but Greenway believes it is only a matter of time until that changes.

“At the end of the day, if a guy can coach, he can coach,” Greenway said of Flores. “And there’s no question, with what he does and if the Vikings defense can have another great year, that he’s going to have a lot of attention brought his way. He’s a good football coach and he’s gonna continue to get opportunities, I’m sure.”

Can the Vikings Pick Up Another Big Divisional Win vs. the Bears in Week 2?

The Vikings’ ability to grind out a win over the Packers to open the season is huge, but now, another huge divisional clash looms against the Bears in Week 2, and this time, they will have to hit the road and head to Soldier Field.

All eyes are on Minnesota’s offense, but in Greenway’s opinion, the pivotal matchup will take place on the other side of the ball between Flores and Chicago’s young star quarterback, Caleb Williams.

“I think the biggest key to this game is Flores’ ability to defend Caleb Williams,” Greenway opined. “What’s your approach? Flores’ blitz rate was really high Week 1. Is it going to remain high in Week 2?

“Caleb Williams is really good out in the pocket with movement and running and athleticism and running the football. How do you contain him? That’s really the story of this game.”

Considering how the Vikings don’t yet know who their quarterback will be for this game, and the fact that the Bears just opened the season with a 59-point outburst against the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota is entering this game as the clear underdog. When asked for a prediction for this game, though, it came to the surprise of no one that Greenway is siding with his former team.

“I’m a homer, so I’m going to pick the Vikings on the road with a field goal to win it, because why wouldn’t I?”