The Vikings will have to make a call on whether to give Teddy Bridgewater and his sore shoulder anymore preseason action.
Have we seen the last of Teddy Bridgewater until the regular season begins on September 11 in Tennessee? It’s starting to feel like it.
Bridgewater played in preseason contest number one and took a sack courtesy of new starting right tackle Andre Smith. Mike Zimmer sent a message to Smith and the rest of his line by demoting the veteran to second team for the next practice.
Thursday night Bridgewater was a surprise scratch against the Seahawks and after the game Mike Zimmer didn’t want to discuss the matter.
On Friday ESPN reported that Bridgewater was held out due to a sore shoulder. That shoulder must not have been feeling much better on Saturday because Bridgewater reportedly did not throw.
With Bridgewater unable to throw and veteran Shaun Hill getting a day off to rest his old bones after playing vs. Seattle, the Vikings gave all the first-team reps to Joel Stave and picked up Brad Sorensen off the street.
The Vikings don’t play again until August 28 when they open up U.S. Bank Stadium against San Diego. That gives Bridgewater some time to rest his arm so he can be ready to go.
But should the Vikings even take the risk if Bridgewater is dealing with arm soreness?
Bridgewater has worked a lot this offseason, throwing in his spare time, throwing in OTAs and minicamp, throwing in training camp. A little dead-arm at this point would not be a shock.
Rest assured, if Mike Zimmer thinks Bridgewater should sit rather than play, he will make that call.
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Zimmer isn’t concerned about entertaining the fans, his only care is keeping his QB healthy.
Keeping Bridgewater healthy means not putting him out there if his arm is sore. Or if his offensive line is unable to protect him.
That arm – and that offensive line – have a few weeks to get better before the games become real.