Image courtesy of Vikings.com
The Minnesota Vikings added 24-year old quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to the active roster after he missed the last 24 games. The team also announced a subsequent roster move regarding quarterback Sam Bradford.
The Vikings activated quarterback Teddy Bridgewater off the physically unable to perform list and placed quarterback Sam Bradford on injured reserve. The roster move was officially announced by the team on Wednesday, November 8th.
Bridgewater suffered a dislocated knee and torn ACL on August 30, 2016. The injury caused him to miss the entire NFL season, which would have been his third as a pro. In 2015, his second and only full season as a starter, Bridgewater threw for 3,231 yards with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He completed 65.3% of his passes and led the Vikings to an 11-5 record and a division title.
On September 3rd of 2016, Bradford was acquired via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles. He started 15 games for the Vikings in 2016 and in the process earned the NFL record for completion percentage (71.6%) in a single season. Bradford passed for a career-high 3,877 yards, the 7th-best mark in Vikings history.
He continued that trend in Week 1 of the 2017 season, passing for a career-high 346 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately for Bradford, he suffered a knee injury in that game that would derail his season.
After three weeks of resting the knee Bradford started Week 5 against the Chicago Bears. He was removed from the game before halftime after it was clear he was in obvious discomfort. That was the last time Bradford would see the field in 2017.
To help ease the pain in his leg, Bradford tried multiple remedies. He even paid thousands of dollars of his own money for lesser-known treatments, but they did not produce the results he had hoped for. It was reported that Bradford could be shelved after visiting Dr. James Andrews yesterday.
The Vikings ended his regular season Wednesday. The team announced the move via Twitter.
Case Keenum, who signed a 1-year, $2 million deal with the Vikings this offseason, has been a bright spot in relief of Bradford. The Vikings have won four straight games under Keenum. The 29 year-old has passed for 1,610 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. He has a 63.9% completion rate with a 88.8 passer rating, which is a career high.
The (6-2) Vikings take on the (4-4) Washington Redskins Sunday at noon.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said at today’s press conference Keenum will start Sunday at FEDEX Field against the Washington Redskins. Bridgewater will dress and back up Keenum. Zimmer said third-string quarterback Kyle Sloter will likely not dress.
Bridgewater will speak to the media Thursday.