Minnesota Vikings fans are holding their breath after starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a potentially serious left knee injury during practice on Tuesday.
Via Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press :
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
You could hear a pin drop on field as Bridgewater was tended do on ground — silence only broken by several F-bombs players screamed#Vikings
— Brian Murphy (@murphPPress) August 30, 2016
Even more concerning than the reaction from the Vikings players was that Bridgewater left practice in an ambulance.
Ambulance presumably taking Teddy Bridgewater to hospital #vikingspic.twitter.com/4Wl1N2ua9i
— Brian Murphy (@murphPPress) August 30, 2016
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is expected to hold a press conference to provide more information on Bridgewater’s injury. A first-round pick in 2014, Bridgewater was poised to have a breakout season after two years as the starter. He passed for 3,231 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, helping the Viking get to 11-5 and into the postseason. If Bridgewater’s injury is as serious as it might seem, then it would be a devastating blow to the Vikings.
We’ll have more as this story develops.
Update: Zimmer addressed the media about Bridgewater’s injury and the news isn’t good.
“Significant knee injury” per Zimmer. “Freaky deal.” and “possible” season-ending injury. #Vikings
— Brian Murphy (@murphPPress) August 30, 2016
Backup quarterbacks on the Vikings roster include veteran Shaun Hill and rookie Joel Stave. Hill, 36, has 34 career starts under his belt. The situation with the Vikings is similar to when Hill started eight games for the Rams when Sam Bradford suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2014.
