Report: Vikings Won’t Play Teddy Bridgewater Without Adrian Peterson
By Dan Zinski
We know how losing Adrian Peterson affects the Vikings’ offense overall – short version: it doesn’t help – but how might Peterson’s deactivation specifically affect the Vikings’ plans for rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater?
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According to one report, losing Peterson means the Vikings will be far more reluctant to play Bridgewater.
Jason Cole of Bleacher Report gives the lowdown on what he learned by speaking to one unnamed Vikings coach:
Despite fans’ seemingly unquestioning faith in Bridgewater, the reality is that quarterbacks seldom do well when thrown into the fire as rookies.
They have even less chance of doing well when they’re not supported by a very deep receiver corps or a top-notch running back.
You can certainly understand the Vikings’ reluctance to throw Bridgewater out there without a proper supporting cast around him. With Peterson out, they have good cause to be dead-set against playing Bridgewater.
Remember what happened with Christian Ponder as a rookie? He at least had Peterson, until Peterson was injured late in the 2011 season. And Ponder still struggled.
Bridgewater would have no Peterson and a very shaky receiver corps. And let’s not even get started on that offensive line.
There are some who think Bridgewater should be put in regardless of the level of offensive talent in the other positions, because they think Bridgewater is some kind of magic quarterback who can instantly fix everything that ails the Vikings.
But history teaches us that it would not be a great idea to throw Bridgewater into the fray under circumstances like those the Vikings currently face.
So, unless things turn around for Adrian Peterson from a legal standpoint and he is allowed to return to the field, don’t look for Teddy Bridgewater at QB for the Vikings.