Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images(MINNEAPOLIS) — Minnesota Vikings practice was ended abruptly on Tuesday after quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a serious knee injury.
ESPN reports that Bridgewater suffered a torn ACL and a dislocated knee when he crumpled to the ground during a non-contact drill. The team released a statement which said that Bridgewater does not have nerve or arterial damage. Still, Bridgewater is unlikely to play this season.
Bridgewater’s leg gave out when he planted to throw a pass during a drill. Players reportedly threw their helmets and shouted, with many dropping to a knee in prayer. An ambulance took Bridgewater from the team’s headdquarters moments after the injury.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer told ESPN that his message to Bridgewater was to “hang in there” and that the team is “with him.”
“We’re gonna grieve today and be upset about it,” Zimmer told reporters later on. “It’s more about our feelings for Teddy and for him as a person and getting better than it is about anything else. Teddy’s a great kid, and he’ll be back as soon as he possy can, if it is real bad. But we’re going to keep fighting.”
The team had hoped Bridgewater was prepared to take a major step forward in his third year in the NFL. Now, they will turn to backup quarterback Shaun Hill. Hill, 36, has played just 16 games over the past five seasons.
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