The Minnesota Vikings took a big blow early in this season, as quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went down with a non-contact leg injury during Tuesday's practice. It was later revealed that Bridgewater suffered a torn ACL, as well as a dislocated knee, officially ending his 2016 season.
The team did announce in a statement that there was no nerve or arterial damage done. It was the Vikings' last practice of the preseason, which the team cut short due to the incident.
In what was a very emotional day for the entire team, many players were seen throwing their helmets in anger, while others knelt down for a prayer. Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer told the young QB to "hang in there" following the injury.
The 23-year-old is expected to be replaced by backup Shaun Hill, who is pretty much all the Vikings have on the depth chart behind their starter. Hill is expected to sit out the preseason finale against the Rams.
Bridgewater was entering his third season in the league, leading the Vikings to the NFC North Championship last season. He sat out the second preseason game with a sore shoulder, but was back on the field Sunday against the Chargers. Bridgewater threw 12-for-16 for 161 yards and a touchdown in two quarters of play.
This incident did push down the team's Super Bowl odds in Las Vegas, as it moved from 20-1 to 30-1. There were only three other teams with better odds to win it all prior to Bridgewater's injury, proving how valuable the mobile quarterback is to the Vikings organization. He is expected to make a full recovery.
The team did announce in a statement that there was no nerve or arterial damage done. It was the Vikings' last practice of the preseason, which the team cut short due to the incident.
In what was a very emotional day for the entire team, many players were seen throwing their helmets in anger, while others knelt down for a prayer. Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer told the young QB to "hang in there" following the injury.
The 23-year-old is expected to be replaced by backup Shaun Hill, who is pretty much all the Vikings have on the depth chart behind their starter. Hill is expected to sit out the preseason finale against the Rams.
Bridgewater was entering his third season in the league, leading the Vikings to the NFC North Championship last season. He sat out the second preseason game with a sore shoulder, but was back on the field Sunday against the Chargers. Bridgewater threw 12-for-16 for 161 yards and a touchdown in two quarters of play.
This incident did push down the team's Super Bowl odds in Las Vegas, as it moved from 20-1 to 30-1. There were only three other teams with better odds to win it all prior to Bridgewater's injury, proving how valuable the mobile quarterback is to the Vikings organization. He is expected to make a full recovery.
