EAGAN, Minn. — Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell continued a tradition Sunday while making a special gesture to members of Vikings football leadership he's tremendously grateful for.

Following Minnesota's Week 1 comeback win over Green Bay, O'Connell gave his customary postgame locker room speech. He designated "everybody who played in the game today" to receive a game ball, and he also presented balls to Vikings General Manager Nolan Teasley and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski and his staff.

O'Connell spoke with media members Monday afternoon and was asked about the recognition. He acknowledged a "unique offseason" in which Brzezinski guided the Vikings early free agency and draft operations before the eventual hiring of Teasley in June.

"There was a lot of great leadership by Rob and his staff shown [before] Nolan being hired," O'Connell said, "and then from the moment Nolan's been hired, it's been phenomenal. Not only the folks that he's brought in, but Rob and Nolan working side-by-side the way they have.

"Some really talented people we had on the personnel staff already. I just thought it was appropriate to make sure [we recognized that area] because on game day, sometimes it can feel like those guys are farther away from it, but that's not how it is at all," O'Connell continued. "And I definitely wanted to highlight Nolan because he's been so huge for us since we've gotten him, and I'm so excited about the future looks like working with him. But at the same time, acknowledge Rob and the staff for the work that was done."

Here are four other takeaways from O'Connell's media session:

1. Update on Murray

O'Connell provided an update on quarterback Kyler Murray, who left Sunday’s game early with a concussion.

According to O'Connell, Murray "came in feeling pretty good" Monday but does remain in the NFL’s mandated concussion protocol.

"We'll defer to the medical folks on that protocol for how the week goes. We'll just take it a day at a time," O'Connell said.

He later noted that because quarterbacks wear red non-contact jerseys during practice anyway, there's a chance he could still participate in some on-field prep should he advance to those stages of the protocol.

"Clearing the physical hurdles of that is not as important as making sure he was still in meetings today. He's not having the type of symptoms where he's not able to be in meetings or things like that," O'Connell said. "He was able to watch the tape, and we'll just take it a day at a time and see how he's doing and make the determination when that time comes."

2. Impact of Wentz

Though it remains to be determined who will start at quarterback for Minnesota against the Bears, O'Connell spoke highly again of Carson Wentz, who calmly led the Vikings offense to four touchdowns in four drives spanning the third and fourth quarters.

No scenario appears "like it's too big" for the veteran passer. O'Connell pointed to Wentz's previous experience around the league as a starter, a backup and in "high-level situations."

So when Wentz was called upon Sunday, none of his teammates or coaches were surprised by his composure and overall performance.

"There were clearly some plays, some third downs, whether it was Jordan [Mason] in the red zone on a third down kind of on the backside … [and] there was a comeback [route] where Carson put it up and J.A. (Jordan Addison) tried to go get it. Both of those would've been conversions maybe with a little time on task," O'Connell explained, "but balancing a lot of things at the position while filling the room was one thing, but then balancing some real important things from Kyler to J.J. [McCarthy] to Carson to Max [Brosmer] throughout the offseason, to win the game — know that we were able to have Carson be as QB2 for the experience and for his ability to handle that moment.

"I was really proud of Carson for that," he added.

3. Justin Jefferson's 'greatness'

O'Connell was asked to elaborate on Justin Jefferson's first of two touchdowns, in which he turned back inside on the catch while maintaining speed and body control.

The Vikings coach referenced a red line painted 6 yards from the sidelines on the Vikings practice fields that helps players keep their bearings.

"We're not allowed to do that on game day," O'Connell quipped. "But you see him kind of, Carson throws it right to that spot, uses every blade of grass, and then Justin just finds a way. Trusts his ability. A lot of guys will struggle in those moments, with a late weave or things like that, because then you still have to track the ball and know where you are and get your feet down. I think so much of that play was Justin's greatness happening; although, there was a bunch of examples of that. He was, if not the best, clearly one of the best players on the field. And to get him in the end zone twice — there's a reason he gets introduced last (coming out of the tunnel). There's a reason why when he scores, it just feels different.

"Defenses make it real hard on him," O'Connell added. "That's why on T.J. [Hockenson's] touchdown catch, you can see T.J., you can see Jordan, you can see Justin taking two [defenders], and what that means to the rest of the progression and Carson finding it was a really, really good play. So you can see Justin's impact when he catches it."

4. Continuing work in the run game

The Vikings run game experienced ups and downs throughout the game Sunday.

O'Connell acknowledged it can be hard to stay committed to the run, particularly when a few plays lost yardage, but he also understands the importance of keeping a balanced offense.

Game situations can also dictate the approach, of course, but he won't be abandoning the run simply due to early adversity.

O'Connell tipped his cap to Packers Defensive Coordinator (and former Vikings assistant) Jonathan Gannon and things he did to make things difficult on the ground for Minnesota, pointing out "timely external pressures from the corners" and execution by Green Bay's linebackers.

"The 'backers did a good job running through on some things. I've got to do a better job early on making sure we're cleaner there," O'Connell said. "But I thought we adjusted and got some things downhill and then were able to stick with it long enough, had a wide zone pop there late for a good hit.

"It's just part of it," he added.

O'Connell emphasized the priority of keeping downs "manageable" and staying out of negative plays.

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