Great question — here's the timeline from the Vikings' 2026 season (from the Carson Wentz page):
No, Carson Wentz did not start Week 1. Kyler Murray was named the starter after winning the QB competition in preseason. But Murray suffered a concussion in the first quarter of Week 1 against the Packers, and Wentz took over.
Wentz was electric off the bench: 12/19, 133 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 123.5 passer rating — leading a 29-0 run to win 39-22. He became only the second QB in the Super Bowl era to throw 3+ TDs off the bench in a season opener.
So, looking ahead, Wentz is now the Vikings' starter for however long Murray is in concussion protocol. As Underdog Fantasy put it: "Carson Wentz is now the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. Kyler Murray is in the concussion protocol." ()
If you're looking at Week 2 and beyond, Wentz is a premium streaming option with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson at his disposal.