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Taylor Cornelius to start at quarterback for Tampa Bay Vipers, Aaron Murray is backup

The original starting quarterback for the team gets reps today in practice, but Cornelius will start vs. the DC Defenders on Sunday

Tampa Bay Vipers quarterback Aaron Murray drops back to pass against the New York Guardians during the first quarter of an XFL football game at MetLife Stadium.  Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Murray will forever be known to history as the starting quarterback in the first game in Tampa Bay Vipers history. But a foot injury in that 23-3 loss to the New York Guardians saw Taylor Cornelius start the next two games, both losses, with Quinton Flowers added as a changeup for the squad.

Although Murray did practice with the team for the first time today, he isn’t expected to return to his starting role this weekend.

Murray was 16/34 for 231 yards but two interceptions in the debut. Cornelius in two games has combined to go 32/58 for 347 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. But it looks like Cornelius will get the start against the DC Defenders this weekend.

Also it appears that quarterback/running back/wide receiver Quinton Flowers was not at practice today as well. Flowers scored the first offensive touchdown in team history last week, but his status with the team at this point is unknown, and Twitter has some different information about his status for now.

For XFL fantasy players, Cornelius might be an option at a good price this weekend. They are a one-point underdog at home via DraftKings Sportsbook right now, and have gone from favorites to win the XFL championship to the biggest underdogs at +2000 in the eight-team league.

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