Teddy Bridgewater’s absence behind center for the Minnesota Vikings might continue for the entire 2017 season, reports Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.
Bridgewater suffered a knee injury before the 2016 NFL season, leading to the talented quarterback missing the entire year. The Vikings have remained hush-hush on his timeline for return, but Cole reports Bridgewater likely won’t be ready to play until at least 2018:
“Doctors told the team that the shortest recovery time for that type of injury has been 19 months. Based on that timeline, Bridgewater won’t be recovered until March 2018 in the best case scenario.”
The acquisition of Sam Bradford, who’s got one year remaining on his contract, makes a heck of a lot more sense now. Bradford wasn’t just a one-year gap, but will likely serve as the starter throughout all next season. The 29-year-old led the Vikings to an 8-8 record with 20 touchdown passes against five interceptions.
Bridgwater appeared to be the answer at QB for the Vikings, who haven’t had a reliable, multi-season starter since Dante Culpepper. The Louisville alum threw for 14 touchdowns with a 65 percent completion rating with nine interceptions in 16 games.
It’s a tough blow for the Vikings. Bradford is a capable fill-in option, but for now, the future will have to wait for Bridgewater. Hopefully by 2018 he’s healthy enough to resume a once-promising football career in Minnesota.
