“Excited” Kyler Murray is ready for his Vikings’ debut

The first pick in the 2019 draft is getting a fresh start on Sunday, with the team he grew up rooting for.

And Kyler Murray is ready for the moment.

“I’m excited,” Murray told reporters on Thursday. “Out of my, I don’t know how many years I played football, this has got to be right up there for the most anticipated. I can’t tell you how excited and ready I am to just be on the field again. Like I said, I haven’t played since October, so it’s been a long time for me.”

Will he be feeling any nerves in his debut as a Viking?

“Nerves? Honestly, I’ve been playing football my whole life,” Murray said. “If I didn’t have, you know, those anxious butterflies, those nerves, I feel like, you know, maybe I shouldn’t be doing it anymore, but I do believe, you know, I’m excited. I’m excited, and, you know, I can’t wait.”

He’ll also be a captain in his first season with the Vikings.

“It means a lot,” Murray said. “It means the world, actually. I mean, for me to be here, a new guy, and the guys, you know, put their faith and trust in me. It’s emotional, but like I said, it means a lot. I’m appreciative, and I take great pride and honor to wear that ‘C’ on my chest.”

The Vikings get a big game right out of the gates, against the Packers at home. A win fueled by a strong performance from Murray will provide instant validation of the effort to sign him. A loss will lead to head scratching for a team that should be good enough, on paper, to get back to the postseason.