EAGAN, Minn. — Kyler Murray will start for the Vikings in Tampa Bay.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell spoke with Twin Cities media members Monday afternoon and noted Murray has fully cleared the league's mandated concussion protocol and will be back in the huddle Week 3.

"He's doing great," O'Connell said.

Murray's return takes nothing away, however, from Carson Wentz's leadership and command of the offense over the past two weeks. O'Connell emphasized the veteran's ability to smoothly step in when Murray suffered an early injury Week 1.

"You think about it, we have no turnovers during that time. I think we had one, maybe, procedural penalty where the left side of our o-line lined up too deep yesterday," O'Connell said. "But outside of that, [Wentz is] running the show. We are functioning as an offense to not get any setbacks that are caused either by the defense making a play or just the execution of where we're at or a bad call by me.

"He's just so steady and finds a way to make that throw to T.J. [Hockenson] in the four-minute drive," O'Connell added. "The third-down conversion I thought was critical to Jordan Addison against the fire zone [blitz] in the middle of the field."

As Murray preps for his second start for Minnesota, O'Connell pointed out he's been watching Wentz's approach.

"Carson isn't doing crazy things. He was just protecting the football, making good decisions, making some big-time throws when he could," O'Connell said. "I think [Murray] saw some plays get made. I think he saw our team play totally connected and complementary of the other two phases and what they can do for the Minnesota Vikings on a Sunday."

Here are four other takeaways from O'Connell's press conference:

1. Unsung heroes

The Vikings Week 2 win was a full-team effort, and O'Connell shouted out a couple players whose impact maybe flew a little under the radar.

After giving game balls Sunday night to kicker Will Reichard and punter Brett Thorson, he additionally highlighted long snapper Andrew DePaola.

"I think 'DePo' has to be right up there with them," O'Connell said. "You just come to expect your long snapper — it never gets mentioned enough, but in those circumstances you saw how it affected the operation on the other side a few times, and especially the blocked field goal. So, DePo deserves some absolute love."

O'Connell then tipped his cap to Brian O'Neill's physicality after a limited week of practice and to Jordan Addison's impact as a blocker.

"His time's coming as far as registering the things he's capable of in the [receiving] stat column," he said of Addison. "Had some chances over the top yesterday, but it wasn't the type of game where you were going to be launching it 55, 60 yards down the field. But his willingness to go do some things in the run game, specifically with Jauan [Jennings] out. And then, really, he had a punch-out on what could have been an interception on that first drive."

2. Game 2 for Banks

Rookie Caleb Banks played 36 defensive snaps in Chicago, 20 more than his debut game, seeing an uptick in responsibility after Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins left with a hip injury.

O'Connell observed Banks' pad level "continuing to improve" and that "he's twitchy and can get off blocks in different ways."

"He's fitting in, and he's continuing to grow," he later added. "The physical talent's clearly there, and the upside is there for us all to see, and we're just going to keep pushing him. I think [Defensive Running Game Coordinator Ryan] Nielsen doing a great job with him, but we've got to keep it going and see where his ascension can get to."

3. Ups & downs in the run game

The Vikings have stayed committed to the run over their first two games, and O'Connell has no intention of abandoning it, but there remains room to improve.

O'Connell offered mixed feelings when asked about that phase of the offense.

"We've been close on a few runs that end up being 4- or 5-yard hits, and we've been close to maybe those being bigger. It's been efficient enough to be something we're consistently doing at a pretty high clip," O'Connell said. "But at the same time, if you're not going to have the chunks — and then we haven't reaped much [in the pass game], a couple plays here and there that I can think of off the top of my head, but we've had some opportunities that either there's been a breakdown somewhere in the play or we just haven't quite connected yet, that you get a couple of those chunks and that maybe loosens up things and you get a chunk or two, as well, in the run game — things can kind of reset as far as what the vision is.

"But in the meantime, you're just churning out positive yardage," he added. "So as many times as we can run the football on some of those, by running it for 3, 4, 5 yards a carry, we're going to end up with the some third-and-manageables and shorters where we can truly keep that run-pass threat an option. But I'm still a believer in explosives. I'm still a believer in taking some yards when they present themselves and doing it at a level where we pitch and catch at a level that I know our guys are capable of."

4. Setting the defensive game plan

O'Connell spoke highly following Sunday's win of the defensive plan entering Chicago.

He revisited the topic Monday, noting his Tuesday meeting with Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores is "one of the most important meetings of the week" because it allows O'Connell to "set the framework for not only the offensive game plan" but simply having a thorough picture of what to expect defensively.

"On Saturdays, I go in and spend some time with those guys just because I have so much respect for Flo' and obviously the level of coaching by him and his staff," O'Connell said. "But I think that's how you get to a place where you can navigate the adversity of a game, of a game week, of a season — by just making sure your team is totally connected."

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