Vikings prepared to activate Teddy Bridgewater, says Mike Zimmer
As the Vikings enter their bye week atop the NFC North standings, coach Mike Zimmer said he is “prepared” to activate quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from the physically unable to perform list, the first step in ushering back their 2014 first-round draft pick after a 14-month absence.
The 24-year-old quarterback has been practicing since Oct. 18, his rehab from a dislocated left knee now complete.
For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, Bridgewater seems likely to get a shot under center given Sam Bradford has missed six of the team’s past seven games because of his own knee injuries and Keenum, despite his success this season, still has a career record of 13-17.“We’ll continue to take it one day at a time,” Zimmer said of Bridgewater’s status. “Just see where he is at, where the team is at, how Case is doing and … how (Sam) is doing.”
Vikings players left Winter Park on Tuesday and don’t have to report back until Monday, the perk of their bye week.
By then, Bridgewater could be sharing snaps with Keenum.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/10/31/vikings-prepared-to-activate-teddy-bridgewater-says-mike-zimmer/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
“I think it’s great,” Keenum said of the Vikings potentially activating Bridgewater. “He can sling it. I’ve watched him on film a long time, but watching him in person is a whole other story. I’ve really enjoyed watching him sling the ball around. I think it’ll be great.”
Of the Vikings’ trio of quarterbacks, the one who seems farthest from playing is Bradford, the season-opening starter. He hasn’t practiced in more than three weeks after aggravating a left knee injury when he returned to action in Week 5 at Chicago.
“He’s getting better,” Zimmer said. “I thought this was going to be a one-week injury. I never thought that it would linger on this long. But he is getting better. We’ll just go from there. When I told you guys that I thought he was close, I thought he was. It just hasn’t worked that way.”
Listening to Zimmer's press conference, it sounds like Teddy will be activated from the PUP list, but I'd be surprised if he starts against Washington. Just my impression, could be wrong...
if its not coming out of the bye... i dont see them benching Case until the wheels fall off of him. I dont see a mediocre performance getting him benched.
@"JimmyinSD" said: if its not coming out of the bye... i dont see them benching Case until the wheels fall off of him. I dont see a mediocre performance getting him benched.I would tend to agree with this and although I think Teddy would provide higher upside the coaching staff is who watches the two each day.
@"Geoff Nichols" said:Yeah, it's a tough spot to be in, but I can see the logic in it. Case is playing just well enough to keep winning and it's hard to know what to expect from Teddy in his first game since the injury. Do you think a couple more weeks of practice would make a big difference for Teddy or would he be better served to start as soon as they feel he can protect himself?@"JimmyinSD" said: if its not coming out of the bye... i dont see them benching Case until the wheels fall off of him. I dont see a mediocre performance getting him benched. I would tend to agree with this and although I think Teddy would provide higher upside the coaching staff is who watches the two each day.
Not a big fan of W-L record being attributed to a QB, but at some point they should acknowledge that Keenum started 0-9...
Unless Teddy is outplaying Keenum in practice or the wheels come off during a game, I'd keep Case in there...no need to rush Teddy back and I'm not convinced he can protect himself...
Fortunately fans don't need to be convinced that he can protect himself or move appropriately. My guess is like most here - stick with Case but get Teddy ready to play.
This has been a crazy QB season for us...ESPN has Keenum with a QBR of # 6 in the NFL.
Thats great for a backup!
Excited that Teddy is back after that terrible injury. If anything he adds a lot more depth at the number 2 spot until the coaches decide he is ready to go.
And Zimmer is keeping Sam a well kept secret - Good or bad.
One game at a time!!
@"Geoff Nichols" said:i believe a loss in Washington and an another slow start in the Rams game, leads to Teddy taking the field to open up then 2nd half vs LA@"JimmyinSD" said: if its not coming out of the bye... i dont see them benching Case until the wheels fall off of him. I dont see a mediocre performance getting him benched. I would tend to agree with this and although I think Teddy would provide higher upside the coaching staff is who watches the two each day.
@"Skodin" said:Depending on how Keenum looks o could either agree or disagree with this statement. 2 straight losses that are on the O I would day for sure, but if it's a defensive breakdown in DC and a slow start against the rams I think Keenum gets the second half to try and right the ship. As much as I want Sam or Teddy, Case has done enough right to earn the right to lose the job, not have it taken from him. Unless Teddy is totally lighting it up in practice, but from the outside looking in....glad it's not my decision.@"Geoff Nichols" said:i believe a loss in Washington and an another slow start in the Rams game, leads to Teddy taking the field to open up then 2nd half vs LA@"JimmyinSD" said: if its not coming out of the bye... i dont see them benching Case until the wheels fall off of him. I dont see a mediocre performance getting him benched. I would tend to agree with this and although I think Teddy would provide higher upside the coaching staff is who watches the two each day.
Zimmer strikes me as to conservative to pull Case right now. I'm not convinced its the best move for the team with the #2 record in the NFC either. I also don't believe Keenum is our QB of the future, where as Teddy could be. Probably back to just letting this play itself out some,
Wonder how the leaders in the locker room would weigh-in?
@"purplefaithful" said: Zimmer strikes me as to conservative to pull Case right now. I'm not convinced its the best move for the team with the #2 record in the NFC either. I also don't believe Keenum is our QB of the future, where as Teddy could be. Probably back to just letting this play itself out some,Wonder how the leaders in the locker room would weigh-in?
I think Keenum is highly respected and popular with his teammates. Big time. He's an exceptional leader and tough. But Teddy is popular also, that's why I think a change would be mitigated somewhat because its Teddy. But I don't think they'll make a change without Keenum shitting the bed a bit. And probably rightly so. Having said that, I think Case is going to start to be less effective in these road games, starting in Washington.
@"StickyBun" said:@"purplefaithful" said: Zimmer strikes me as to conservative to pull Case right now. I'm not convinced its the best move for the team with the #2 record in the NFC either. I also don't believe Keenum is our QB of the future, where as Teddy could be. Probably back to just letting this play itself out some,Wonder how the leaders in the locker room would weigh-in?
I think Keenum is highly respected and popular with his teammates. Big time. He's an exceptional leader and tough. But Teddy is popular also, that's why I think a change would be mitigated somewhat because its Teddy. But I don't think they'll make a change without Keenum shitting the bed a bit. And probably rightly so. Having said that, I think Case is going to start to be less effective in these road games, starting in Washington.
I agree, I don't think Case has the chops to play through a rough crowd noise environment. But I've been wrong before.
@"StickyBun" said:@"purplefaithful" said: Zimmer strikes me as to conservative to pull Case right now. I'm not convinced its the best move for the team with the #2 record in the NFC either. I also don't believe Keenum is our QB of the future, where as Teddy could be. Probably back to just letting this play itself out some,Wonder how the leaders in the locker room would weigh-in?
I think Keenum is highly respected and popular with his teammates. Big time. He's an exceptional leader and tough. But Teddy is popular also, that's why I think a change would be mitigated somewhat because its Teddy. But I don't think they'll make a change without Keenum shitting the bed a bit. And probably rightly so. Having said that, I think Case is going to start to be less effective in these road games, starting in Washington.
Generally speaking I think whoever we put in as QB is going to be less effective in the coming road games. We're a different team at home. Add to that we are going to be playing some tougher teams on the back half of the season. Although I think the division has gotten a lot easier with Detroit having reverted back to being the Lions,Rodgers out, and the Bears offense being one dimensional (and we get them at home).The mobility of Keenum is the great equalizer right now. He might not have the arm strength of Teddy, but Teddy was never known for having the biggest arm either. Teddy was known for taking care of the ball, making plays when he had to, and being pretty accurate. So far Case has checked all those boxes with a few less long balls that I think we'd all like to see. Is that scheme or Case not capitalizing on opportunities?
All in all, I don't see how you pull Keenum unless he gets hurt or is clearly horrible in multiple games.
I hope Teddy is healthy enough to play, and plays ASAP. Case is a backup, and Teddy is a starter. Case is the best backup we've had here in years, and does a pretty decent job of protecting the ball. He also has his limits and it shows.
This offense could be special with a stud QB, and that points to Teddy or Sam on this current roster. If either of these two QBs are ready to step in, I'm all for it. Start getting Teddy game ready now, so he's at full stride for the play-off push and hopefully the post season.
Again, I think it is a mistake to wait for Keenum to decline. It suggests he earned - won - the starting job; he didn't, he is subbing for an injured starter. The starter (Bridgewater or Bradford) should return when healthy. Otherwise it is as though Keenum is the starter and someone else only replaces him because he has failed.
If Harrison Smith missed the rest of this season due to injury, and Jayron Kearse played competently in his absence, next fall would you keep Smith on the bench until Kearse had a bad game?
@"Jor-El" said: If Harrison Smith missed the rest of this season due to injury, and Jayron Kearse played competently in his absence, next fall would you keep Smith on the bench until Kearse had a bad game?
If we were talking Sam I think this comparison would be more valid. Bridgewater hasn't seen a live bullet in 1.5 seasons.
That said, the team has to somehow figure out what they have in #5 and the only way to do that is see him play extensively.
Good luck to Zimm on this one...
@"purplefaithful" said:@"Jor-El" said: If Harrison Smith missed the rest of this season due to injury, and Jayron Kearse played competently in his absence, next fall would you keep Smith on the bench until Kearse had a bad game?If we were talking Sam I think this comparison would be more valid. Bridgewater hasn't seen a live bullet in 1.5 seasons.
That said, the team has to somehow figure out what they have in #5 and the only way to do that is see him play extensively.
No comparison is perfect, of course. But I think waiting for Keenum to slip is going to lead to either:
- Sticking with Case too long because he is never "bad enough" and so we never assess Bridgewater and possibly slide into a wildcard with a mediocre QB; OR
- Change after watching Case fail at the cost of a few losses and putting pressure on Bridgewater to come in and save the season.
@"BarrNone55" said:
Not a big fan of W-L record being attributed to a QB.
This, IMO, is the only reason anyone is talking about Keenum keeping the job.
@"Jor-El" said:That is the big issue right there. Do you mess up what has been going right so far? Or do you risk waiting too long to make the necessary change?
No comparison is perfect, of course. But I think waiting for Keenum to slip is going to lead to either:
- Sticking with Case too long because he is never "bad enough" and so we never assess Bridgewater and possibly slide into a wildcard with a mediocre QB; OR
- Change after watching Case fail at the cost of a few losses and putting pressure on Bridgewater to come in and save the season.
IMO, I would have a plan to start Teddy either in DC or at home the week after. If he is showing well enough in practice, I think you have to make the switch around the bye. Case is a good backup and seems to realize that is his role. I don't think making the change will affect the chemistry too much as the team loves Teddy. Case is respected and has done well enough, but I think the team is smart enough to see they need an upgrade if they want to make a run. I think they would respect the coach for having the guts to make the call.
@"Jor-El" said:Or maybe that he is 6th in total QBR this season so far.@"BarrNone55" said:Not a big fan of W-L record being attributed to a QB.This, IMO, is the only reason anyone is talking about Keenum keeping the job.I agree that he is not perfect, but Teddy never was either, and I really feel like he's not getting enough credit for his play so far this year.
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