According to multiple sources, Christian Ponder’s shoulder dislocation is considered minor and it is a real possibility that he could start Sunday in Seattle.
Ponder injured the shoulder Thursday at the Metrodome attempting to score on a third quarter run, extending the ball with his right arm before landing hard on his left shoulder without any way to brace his fall. He did not return.
Here’s a picture from the goal line just before Ponder went down.
Here’s a tweet and picture from earlier today of Ponder with an adoring fan.
https://twitter.com/Shyam_Dog/status/399703212904554496
Over Ponder’s left shoulder and coming down his chest in the picture is the sling he sported in the postgame press conference after Minnesota’s win over Washington Thursday.
Ponder was having one of his best games as a Viking before having to depart with the injury, as he set a personal best in completion percentage, connecting on 17-of-21 passes, while finding tight end John Carlson seven times and throwing for two touchdowns for a 95.0 QBR (measured from 1-100).
Head coach Leslie Frazier has said he’s unsure if Ponder will be ready, declining to speculate further, but Ponder said after the game Thursday that he expects to play this coming Sunday against the Seahawks.
Last year in Seattle, Ponder threw for just 63 yards while being picked off once in a 30-20 loss to the Seahawks, his only time facing Seattle.
Should Ponder not be ready in time, Frazier said he would choose between Matt Cassel, who relieved Ponder after he was injured, and Josh Freeman, who has not seen game action since his atrocious performance in New York two weeks after signing with Minnesota.
Late last week, Freeman said he believes he has made significant progress since that game, and hopes to start when Minnesota needs him.
