Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is eligible to return from the physically unable to perform list beginning in Week 7, and a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that Bridgewater will be “ready to go” at that time.
Bridgewater, who suffered a gruesome knee injury last August and missed the entirety of the 2016 season, would give Minnesota another option at quarterback, a position that’s already been affected by health questions this year. Sam Bradford, whom the Vikings acquired in the wake of Bradford’s injury, posted one of the best performances of his career in Week 1, but has since missed two games while dealing with his own knee issue.
Case Keenum has filled in for Bradford against the Steelers and Buccaneers, and played extremely well in Week 3 against Tampa Bay, completing 75% of his passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns. While Bridgewater’s own health isn’t a given going forward, his presence would give the Vikings three competent players under center if Bradford can return.
If Bridgewater can return, any questions about his contract status would be avoided. If he’d been forced to miss the 2017 campaign, the final year of his rookie deal may have tolled, preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent next spring. If he can make it back to the field, however, Bridgewater should hit the open market in 2018 after the Vikings declined his fifth-year option.
Regardless of how he performs or what role he plays it’ll be good to see him back on the field again.
I agree. I haven’t been the biggest believer in his talent but all reports are that he’s an upstanding young man who deserves to try and get his career on track.
Dolphins better try to sign him or Bradford in the offseason