We already knew that the Vikings will open up the 2017 season with Sam Bradford under center, but given the success that he has experienced in his young career, there is no reason to believe that Teddy Bridgewater would not get the opportunity to win his job back when he returns from his ACL injury.
The problem is, no one knows when that will be. Head coach Mike Zimmer, who made a guest appearance on ESPN this morning, said during his interview with ESPN’s Hannah Storm, “We don’t know when Teddy will be back” (link via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
Bridgewater’s injury, of course, was especially gruesome, leading some to question whether he would ever be able to return to the field. Back in October, one doctor who has worked with NFL teams said, “This is a bad injury, about the worst knee injury a player can have.”
Both Bradford and Bridgewater are under contract through 2017, and although Bradford will account for a sizable $17MM against the salary cap next year, Bridgewater is still on his rookie deal and will count just $2.18MM against the cap. Bradford played reasonably well this year, his first in Minnesota, and it is possible that, if the Vikings shore up their running game and offensive line, they could return to the playoffs with Bradford at the helm.
But Bridgewater, despite his struggles in the deep passing game, has demonstrated that he could be the team’s long-term solution under center if he can get healthy. Zimmer’s somewhat ominous statement, though, has cast some doubt on that proposition.
Bridgewater is not the long term answer for this team. But neither is Bradford. There’s a lot of work to do on the offensive side…O line…rb…receiver to go with Diggs. They need to draft a QB that’s a year or two project. The defensive side is pretty established.
I doubt Bridgewater will return to even half of what he was. Without publicly saying so, I think the Vikings know this too.
I’m a chicago area guy so I believe in treadwell and that he can be a good wr to compliment diggs. O line has to be of highest priority tho. This is a rb stacked class they can most definetly find a good rb there to
Agreed jkbuckets…not sure what the deal with treadwell was this season but I do believe he has a lot of talent as does Cordarelle Patterson.
I think they just didn’t learn the system very fast. Patterson was finally showing more flashes of greatness this year and I think Treadwell will do that next year
Let’s hope so!! Otherwise it’s 2 1st rounders down the tube! Oh the life of a Vikings fan!! Purple until death do us part.
Bridgewater was never going to make the jump to great. Now he will probably not make the jump to good. The Vikings have short pass Sammy one more season but are in desperate need for a franchise QB. Cut AP, use the dollars to sign help on offense, draft a young QB and begin to develop. Every time this team seems to be on the right track, they have horrible luck and have to start over. How many bad teams has AP been a part of? He’s never been part of a real contender. Sad.
A gruesome injury that’s going to take a miracle to over come to play in the NFL again let alone live a normal life. I never thought he was the answer but he knows how to manage and win ball games. Best of luck but i doubt he will ever be the same player he was. That being said the Vikings should stop drafting defensive players and help their offense
Hopefully Teddy makes it back for the 2018 season. He’ll make the perfect backup as an experienced game manager.