Following the loss of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a torn ACL and dislocated knee, the Vikings are left with 15-year veteran Shaun Hill, third-year practice squad passer Brad Sorensen, and undrafted rookie Joel Stave.
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After dropping back to pass during a drill, Bridgewater planted his foot and immediately dropped. He grabbed his left knee while concerned teammates and trainers huddled around him.
Coach Mike Zimmer said: “Teddy’s such a great kid”. In fact, Hill has started only six more regular-season games in his 11 seasons than Bridgewater did in his first two. While losing their starting quarterback will obviously be an enormous blow to the Vikings on the field this season, it’s certainly a relief to know that an bad situation didn’t reach it’s much, much more terrible potential.
Peterson said he has full confidence in Shaun Hill, who will take over for Bridgewater. “We’re going to figure out a way”.
With teams having to cut down to 75-man rosters yesterday afternoon, injury news started flying all across the board as players hit lists to exempt them from the count. “And to be honest with you, you sit there and talk on the phone and go through everything, and one thing that we will not do, and I promise you this, is put our organization in a situation where it’s going to inhibit us or hurt us going into the future. Our fans love the kid”.
Zimmer addressed the team in full and was clearly upset for Bridgewater, a player he quickly bonded with after he was drafted in the first round in 2014.
The Vikings, who play the Los Angeles Rams Thursday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, will open the regular season September 11 at Tennessee.
It was that ineffable quality about Bridgewater, Zimmer figured, that got so many players from South Florida to follow him to Louisville. Maybe five years ago I would answer different, but I don’t think he can lead the Vikings to the promise land this season.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has dropped a statement following his season-ending leg injury. The Vikings will miss him for the entire 2016 offseason and National Football League rumors have linked the team to other quarterbacks available in the free agency or trade.
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General Manager Rick Spielman said as much on Thursday. But “looks like” and “actually doing it” are two different stories and who knows what we would have had with Teddy this year. “We’re with him. Hope for the best”.
