Kyler Murray's OT Wishes He 'Took a Shot At' Packers' Bullard for Hit That Injured Vikings QB

Veteran quarterback Kyler Murray's debut with the Minnesota Vikings was cut short when he suffered a concussion just 11 plays into Sunday's season opener against the Green Bay Packers.

Murray scrambled on a third-down play in the first quarter before taking a big hit from Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness and safety Javon Bullard, the latter of whom was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill shoved Bullard in defense of his quarterback, and he said after the game that he wished he had done more.

"It was so bang, bang," O'Neill said, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "You don't want to freak out if you're wrong. I was probably wrong to not freak out more than that. So I kind of wish I took a shot at him."

The hit left Murray motionless on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium, and players later confirmed that his body was in a fencing posture, a common immediate reaction to brain trauma.

"Obviously somebody hit him while he was down. But as soon as that happened and I saw his reaction to that, it was really just frustration," Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson said. "I hate to see anyone go down with an injury, especially an injury like that. For our starting quarterback to go down that early in that way, it was definitely very tough to see."

While Murray was placed in concussion protocol, head coach Kevin O'Connell said his interactions with teammates in the post-game locker room were encouraging.

"I don't have a lot to update," O'Connell said, "other than I did just see him and he seemed to be doing pretty well."

The Vikings got the last laugh against their NFC North rivals, defeating the Packers 39-22 behind three touchdown passes from backup quarterback Carson Wentz.

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While Murray recovers, Wentz will likely be under center again when the Vikings return to action in Week 2 in another NFC North matchup against the Chicago Bears (1-0).