Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went down with a “significant” knee injury injury in practice on Tuesday, causing the team to cut short its session after 25 minutes. It was later confirmed that Bridgewater had dislocated his knee and torn an ACL – he will play no part in the 2016 season.
“After undergoing an MRI, it was determined that Teddy suffered a complete tear to his ACL and other structural damage,” a team statement read. “Fortunately, there appears to be no nerve or arterial damage. Surgical repair will be scheduled within the next few days.
“Although the recovery time will be significant, we expect Teddy to make a full recovery. [The team] would like to thank all of the medical professionals and our athletic training staff for all of their help today. Teddy has already displayed the attitude needed to overcome this injury and attack his rehab.”
Bridgewater dropped back to pass during a drill, planted his foot and immediately went down. He grabbed his left knee while concerned team-mates and athletic trainers huddled around him.
Coach Mike Zimmer eventually called off practice, and the rest of the team walked off the field while Bridgewater was being attended to. Moments later, an ambulance pulled into the team’s Winter Park headquarters, and Bridgewater was taken away. He had to be sedated before being treated at hospital. “Teddy’s such a great kid,” Zimmer said. “I love this kid. Our fans love this kid.”
Players were visibly distraught as they exited the field, some hurling expletives into the air. A small group remained behind, huddled around him in prayer as team athletic trainers worked to immobilize his leg.
There is little behind Bridgewater on the depth chart. Shaun Hill is the primary backup, but he’s 36 years old and has played only sparingly over the last five years.
“We’re not going to stick our heads in the sand, tuck our tail between our legs,” Zimmer said later. “We’re not going to make excuses.”
Bridgewater is entering his third season in the NFL and the Vikings were counting on him to take some major steps forward after a promising start to his career. He helped lead the Vikings to the NFC North championship last season as more of a game manager, but Zimmer and offensive coordinator Norv Turner have said that they expected him to be much more of a playmaker in 2016.
Bridgewater missed the second preseason game with a sore shoulder, but was very sharp on Sunday against San Diego. He went 12 for 16 for 161 yards and a touchdown in two quarters of work, leaving Vikings players and fans fully confident as the team starts to prepare for the season opener at Tennessee on 11 September.
The Vikings host the Los Angeles Rams in their final preseason game Thursday night, though Bridgewater and most of the starters were not expected to play.