Report: Teddy Bridgewater Injured at Vikings Practice
Luck has seemingly run out for the Minnesota Vikings. Reports from multiple media members at Tuesday’s practice indicate a potentially serious injury for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. According to those in attendance, Bridgewater crumpled to the crowd twenty minutes into practice, effectively ending the session.
Trainers rushed to Bridgewater’s side and immediately checked on his leg. Sam Ekstrom reported that Bridgewater’s teammates reacted with “swearing” and the “slamming of helmets,” a sign that the non-contact injury could be of the season-ending variety. It’s too early to confirm, but an ambulance arrived shortly after the incident and Mike Zimmer will reportedly speak to the media soon, per Matt Vensel.
The team ended practice early and asked the media to leave the field as teammates gathered around Bridgewater in prayer. Given the nature of the play — a non-contact injury that saw the quarterback collapse in the pocket — and Bridgewater’s reaction, many believe it could be his MCL or ACL. The reaction of his teammates, though, suggests something worse, possibly a break or dislocation. Doctor Selene Parekh speculated as much on Twitter shortly after the news broke.
#Vikings Teddy Bridgewater goes down w knee injury. Give an ambulance on the way, think more than ACL. Hope not a knee dislocation
— Dr. Selene Parekh (@seleneparekhmd) August 30, 2016
Bridgewater is currently on his way to the hospital, where he’ll presumably receive a battery of tests to determine the severity of the injury. He’s currently backed up by Shaun Hill and Joel Stave, as well as Taylor Heinicke, who is still on the non-football injury list.
A Vikings team without Bridgewater is the last thing many expected heading into 2016. He’s become the face of the franchise, and the organization has treated him as such this offseason. He missed Minnesota’s second preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks with a sore shoulder, with Zimmer repeatedly citing his decision as being “cautious” with the third-year quarterback.
We will do our best to update you as the situation unfolds.