What’s really going on with Teddy Bridgewater?
First, former Viking Bob Lurtsema told the Pioneer Press that Bridgewater will play in the preseason and he’s already “throwing sharp” passes. Second, NFL Network’s Good Morning Football crew made it sound like Bridgewater could have a chance to push Sam Bradford for the starting job next season.
“We don’t know the status of his health. It’s almost being treated like Pentagon papers,” said GMFB’s Peter Schrager on Thursday. “Very curious to see how he comes back, but if he shows even a glimpse of what he was before the injury, Sam Bradford should be on alert.”
Bridgewater is nearly nine months removed from the torn ACL and dislocated knee that ended his 2016 season, and the common opinion is that he’ll start next season, perhaps spending the entire season, on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Head coach Mike Zimmer on May 5 said: “I’m probably more optimistic now about him potentially playing than I have at any point in time. But he still has a long way to go.”
Ex-Vikings wide receiver Nate Burleson is on the GMFB cast and he picked Bridgewater as his player to watch next season.
“The season kind of hinges on what’s going to happen with him,” he said. “If he’s not ready, then Bradford’s the guy. If he is ready, you get Teddy Bridgewater back – hopefully healthy, which we don’t know, it’s a big question mark. You know the soap opera in sports has us all wondering. But he also has the wide receivers, tight ends and runnings backs. So Teddy Bridgewater, we’re watching you.”
The Vikings report for three days of Organized Team Activities next week (May 23-25).
