With Aaron Murray Day-To-Day, Do Vipers Have A QB Controversy?

Yesterday when the Tampa Bay Vipers returned to practice, they were without their starting quarterback from week one, Aaron Murray. Murray reportedly suffered a foot injury during the 23-3 loss to the New York Guardians on Sunday.

Despite fans calling on the team for a change at quarterback, they’ll have to wait at least another week. The team released their official week two depth chart, and despite his uncertain status, Murray remains the team’s QB1.

Tampa Bay Vipers official depth chart for Week 2 against the Seattle Dragons. Kelly to CB1, McFadden jumps up to CB2 as Shelton Lewis hits IR. @XFLNewsHub #ReadyToStrike pic.twitter.com/1BujY8NpDq

— Brian Lombardo (@Brian_Lombardo) February 11, 2020

As first reported by Mari Faiello of Tampa Bay Times Sports, Murray was interviewed on the sidelines by Jenny Taft who asked the QB about the medical staff looking at his foot, to which Murray quickly brushed off the question saying, “It’s nothing. We’ll be good to go the rest of the game.”

During a tweet thread, Faiello analyzed the QB’s performance from the time of his suspected injury:

His timeline post-interview:
Incomp
27 yards pass
Incomp
Incomp
Sacked -9 yds
11 yards pass
Interception
Sacked, fumbled
7 yards pass
5 yards pass
Incomp
Incomp

— Mari Faiello (@faiello_mari) February 11, 2020

Much of the offense’s incompetence Sunday came with Murray’s inability to get going. So-much-so that the team worked Quinton Flowers into the second half game plan. Flowers, whose listed on the Vipers roster as a QB/RB, can impact the game in several ways, which was Vipers head coach Marc Trestman’s reasoning for listing Flowers as a dual position player.

When word broke Tuesday that Murray was held out of practice, the same Tampa Bay fans that were calling for Flowers to take over fully under center Sunday, were once again pleading for the team to go with Flowers.

While they won’t be getting their wish quite yet, coach Trestman did say that backup quarterback Taylor Cornelius and Quinton Flowers will split practice snaps on Wednesday as well.

Aaron Murray didn’t practice today with a lower leg injury he suffered during Sunday’s game. Marc Trestman said Murray is day to day. Quinton Flowers and Taylor Cornelius will spilt snaps in practice tomorrow. #Vipers #XFLVipers #TBVipers

— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) February 11, 2020

The team will practice Wednesday and Thursday before traveling Friday. They will make the cross-country flight to take on the Seattle Dragons Saturday. As soon as official decisions are made regarding Murray and the team’s quarterback situation for week two, XFL News Hub will have it.