Vikings Doubt Kyler Murray's Week 2 Return After 1st-Quarter Concussion

Q: Will the NFL drop the hammer on Javon Bullard for the alarming hit that knocked Murray out?

Probably not a suspension, but a fine looks likely. Bullard was already flagged in-game for unnecessary roughness after hitting Murray as the quarterback slid, and multiple reports described the contact as illegal and dangerous. Murray’s helmet came off, he showed a fencing posture, and he was diagnosed with a concussion. That combination almost guarantees the league office will review the play. Based on recent NFL discipline patterns, the most likely outcome is a five-figure fine rather than the league “dropping the hammer” with a ban. The standard fine range tied to this type of conduct runs roughly from about $11,900 for a late hit to nearly $24,000 if the NFL classifies it more severely as a hit on a defenseless player or impermissible use of the helmet/launching. The exact amount depends on how the league categorizes Bullard’s technique. A suspension appears less likely unless the NFL determines Bullard’s hit fits one of the more serious player-safety categories and he is later found to be a repeat offender under the league’s newer health-and-safety accountability system. That system is aimed at repeated violations such as launching and hits on defenseless players, but one Week 1 incident by itself usually does not trigger a one-game ban. So the short answer is that Bullard is likely to hear from the league, but the expected punishment is a significant fine, not a major suspension.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Sep 14

Week 2 availability for Kyler Murray is uncertain after the Vikings said they do not know whether he can clear concussion protocol for next week's game against the Bears.
A 1st-quarter hit from Packers defender Javon Bullard left Murray in a fencing posture Sunday, triggering the protocol that now requires him to pass a series of tests in the coming days.
Murray was reportedly in good spirits after the game, but concussed players often miss the following week, leaving Carson Wentz as a possible starter with J.J. McCarthy as his backup.
The decision will hinge on Murray's progress through the NFL's step-by-step clearance process over the week ahead.