Considering that the Titans have won a combined five games in the past two seasons, the Vikings may have enough of a lead before all is said and done Sunday (knock on wood) to get Bradford some garbage time plays as a rehearsal of sorts for the Green Bay game. Bradford, who the Vikings traded a first-round and fourth-round pick for, is expected to take over as the team’s starter once he gets a stronger grasp on the playbook.
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“I guess we’ll find out Sunday”, Zimmer said.
The Vikings also this week released safety Michael Griffin, who was initially placed on injured reserve with a back injury.
“If we didn’t have a guy like him, that would make this thing a lot harder than what it is”, Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said of the NFL’s 2012 MVP.
Marcus Mariota begins his sophomore campaign and the Vikings move on after Teddy Bridgewater’s season-ending injury.
Earlier this week, Titans head coach Mike Mularkey stated that he would prepare to play against Bradford. He’s started every regular season game for the last two seasons for them and has regularly been tasked with the challenge of covering the opposing teams top receiver, so the Vikings will certainly miss him. We’ve got video of them with the designed out-of-the-pocket [plays], but that’s not what they’re there for. Whenever Murray needs a break, Heisman Trophy victor Derrick Henry will be ready to come in. The Vikings gave both quarterbacks turns with the first team this week, but Bradford has only had seven days and five practices with the team.
Case in point: the Vikings lost 20-3 to San Francisco in Week 1 last season but went on to win the NFC North with an 11-5 record.
“Just thinking back on it, I think that everybody is going to be an instant evaluator after the first week”, Zimmer said.
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HE’S MY IDOL: Dick LeBeau, going into his 58th National Football League season, is Tennessee’s defensive coordinator this season, and Zimmer is a big fan. “They’re going to say, ‘Oh, this team is in trouble, and that team is great.’ I don’t think that it really tells you anything”.
