In NFL news that everyone saw coming, the Minnesota Vikings appear ready to hand the offense over to recently acquired Sam Bradford.
Reports out of Minnesota had suggested Bradford was getting a bulk of the practice reps with the first team offense this week, which was to be expected. After all, the Vikings gave up a first-round draft pick and shipped it to Philadelphia in order to obtain Bradford just before the start of the NFL season after losing Teddy Bridgewater. Perhaps the only reason Bradford didn’t get the nod in Week 1 was because of his late arrival to the team and a lack of reps in practices with his new teammates. Shaun Hill started the season opener for the Vikings.
BREAKING: Sam Bradford is expected to start for the Vikings on Sunday night. (via @GoesslingESPN) pic.twitter.com/27wla4lkos
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 17, 2016
The Vikings did pick up the win in Week 1, with a 25-16 victory on the road against the Tennessee Titans. Hill completed 18 of his 33 pass attempts for 236 yards. Sam Bradford did not get in to attempt a pass in the game, but he should get plenty on Sunday against division rival Green Bay.
It has been quite a road for Bradford in the NFL. On Sunday, Bradford will make a start for his third NFL team, with the other two being the St. Louis Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles. Bradford has been banged up for much of his career, so that has to be a concern for the Vikings as they hope he can fill the gap while Bridgewater recovers from his injuries this year.
Bradford has also been hailed as a player coming in to save a franchise, to one degree or another. In St. Louis, he was to be the franchise quarterback for years to come. In Philadelphia, he was supposed to be the quarterback that would help run Chip Kelly’s offense. Now, in Minnesota, Bradford arrives to keep Super Bowl hopes alive for a starving franchise and fan base.
That may be a little too much pressure to put on Bradford, but he may finally be falling into the best possible spot he has been in since playing at Oklahoma in the Big 12. Will we finally see the Sam Bradford that was expected out of college?
