Vikings Bridgewater and Newman pass first concussion tests
By Adam Carlson
The Minnesota Vikings suffered two big losses to concussions during Sunday’s game against the Rams, but Teddy Bridgewater and Terence Newman are on track to return next week.
Teddy Bridgewater was knocked out of Sunday’s contest against the St. Louis Rams on a hit that many people are calling dirty. Defensive back Lamarcus Joyner connected with an elbow on a play where Bridgewater had given himself up and was sliding for safety. After the elbow hit, the Vikings quarterback’s head bounced off the turf. He exited the game and did not return. Later, it was announced that he had suffered a concussion.
But Bridgewater wasn’t the only member of the Vikings who was concussed during the game against St. Louis. Minnesota cornerback Terence Newman was also lost for the game, forcing rookie Trae Waynes into the lineup.
The good news is that both Teddy Brigdgewater and Terence Newman have passed the first round of concussion testing and are on track to return for Sunday’s contest against the Oakland Raiders. According to an article on the ESPN website, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is optimistic about the chances of his quarterback playing in California.
"Nov 8, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) injured after a late hit during the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Rams 21-18. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports“I think he should be good to go,” Zimmer said."
If Bridgewater is unable to go, expect to see backup quarterback Shaun Hill get the start for the Minnesota Vikings against the Raiders. Meanwhile, if Terence Newman is unable to clear concussion protocol, it’s is much more likely that we’ll see more from Waynes.
We’ll find out more about the status of these two Minnesota Vikings starters as the week unfolds. In the meantime, the rest of the team will continue to prepare in their normal fashion to clash against the Raiders on November 15, 2015.