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UPDATE: 8/30/16 - 8:20 p.m. ET - The Minnesota Vikings released a statement on Bridgewater’s injury. Here’s the important snippet of it:
After undergoing an MRI, it was determined that Teddy suffered a complete tear to his ACL and other structural damage. 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.
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With the regular season just over a week away, teams are starting to turn the page on the offseason and starting to focus on real games. But for the Minnesota Vikings, they may have to rethink their entire offensive game plan heading into opening weekend.
According to several sources at Vikings practice, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went down with a significant leg injury. Minnesota was just 25 minutes into practice, but because players were so visibly distraught after the injury, the team decided to end practice there.
Here’s a sampling of reports from practice:
Teddy Bridgewater just went down with an apparent injury and the #Vikings ended practice. Looks serious.
— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) August 30, 2016
The Vikings just called off practice after 25 minutes, when Teddy Bridgewater went down on a non-contact play.... https://t.co/Ijo2wsYU67
— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingESPN) August 30, 2016
Bad scene. Bridgewater down in pocket grabbing left knee. Players freaked out, swearing and praying. Immobilized. Practice halted #Vikings
— Brian Murphy (@murphPPress) August 30, 2016
Adrian Peterson, Matt Asiata and Adam Thielen locked arms in prayer huddled over prone Bridgewater, who clutched left knee and never moved
— Brian Murphy (@murphPPress) August 30, 2016
Ambulance presumably taking Teddy Bridgewater to hospital #vikings pic.twitter.com/4Wl1N2ua9i
— Brian Murphy (@murphPPress) August 30, 2016
Obviously, some of the most concerning reports are that it was a non-contact injury and that Bridgewater needed to be taken away in an ambulance. This does not appear to be a short-term injury by any means.
This injury would be devastating for a Vikings offense that many predicted would have a big year because of Bridgewater’s improvement. Bridgewater was modest statistically last year, but it was enough to lead the team to an NFC North crown and earn Bridgewater a trip to the Pro Bowl. Now that the Vikings have bolstered their wide receivers, it was the belief of many that Bridgewater was poised to break out.
Behind Bridgewater, the Vikings have former Detroit Lions backup quarterback Shaun Hill. Hill only threw seven passes for the Vikings last season, but started eight games for the Rams in 2014, racking up eight touchdowns, seven interceptions and an 83.9 passer rating.
The Vikings open up their 2016 schedule on the road against the Tennessee Titans. They play the Lions in Week 9 and Week 12 of the regular season.