Vikings add quarterback to active roster, Bradford concerns continue
By Adam Patrick
The Minnesota Vikings added a third quarterback to the active roster on Saturday after signing Kyle Sloter form the team’s practice squad.
Last Tuesday morning for fans of the Minnesota Vikings was filled with plenty of excitement after the team cruised to a Week 1 win over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. By Friday, that excitement had made its way back down to a feeling of pessimism that Vikings fans are more accustomed to experiencing.
After having a career-best performance against the Saints, it was revealed on Friday that Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford had an MRI this past week due to some swelling and pain in his left knee (the same knee in which he tore his ACL, twice). Despite Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer saying on Friday that he expects Bradford to play in the team’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, some began to express doubt about Minnesota’s actual chance for success in 2017.
As they have shown in the past, the Vikings normally add more gasoline to the fire rather than make an attempt to put out the flame. They did just that on Saturday when they announced that they had signed quarterback Kyle Sloter from the practice squad and added him to their active roster.
We have signed QB @KyleSloter to the active roster and waived S Antone Exum Jr.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 16, 2017
📰: https://t.co/Zzf26Nje3f pic.twitter.com/u6e4xiXWK0
The move now gives Minnesota a total of three quarterbacks on their current active roster. Plenty of those who follow and cover the team were not shy about what they think the transaction says about Bradford’s current health.
A report of Sloter moved to the 53-man. Definite concern with Bradford's left knee. #Vikings https://t.co/UXa8VYFvCd
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) September 16, 2017
Bradford appears truly questionable, #Vikings walking a fine line. Case Keenum would be their 9th starting QB since 2011.
— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) September 16, 2017
This is bad...Sams hurt https://t.co/mOuiCxvIKQ
— Yinka Ayinde (@Saxyprince) September 16, 2017
People can interpret the move however they desire, but it could just be Minnesota taking the proper precautions for going against a physical Steelers defense on Sunday.
Pittsburgh had seven sacks and four unnecessary roughness penalties in their win over the Cleveland Browns last week. The Steelers are going to bring the pressure on Sunday and the Vikings know that.
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Before adding Sloter to the active roster, if Bradford were to get hurt at some point on Sunday, Case Keenum would have been the only quarterback remaining for Minnesota to turn to. People can think the move speaks to the current health of Bradford, but it seems most likely that the Vikings are just preparing for a very physical matchup against Pittsburgh on Sunday.