The Viking Age
FanSided

Teddy Bridgewater enjoyed the 2017 season like no other before

By Adam Patrick

GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 23: Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Minnesota Vikings sits on the bench during the second half of a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 23, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Vikings won the game 16-0. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 23: Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Minnesota Vikings sits on the bench during the second half of a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 23, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Vikings won the game 16-0. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The soon-to-be free-agent quarterback recently discussed how his 2017 season with the Minnesota Vikings was the most favorite of his NFL career.

He wasn’t able to get back into the starting lineup last season, but Teddy Bridgewater didn’t need that to happen in order for 2017 to be the most enjoyable season of his NFL career. After rehabbing from a brutal knee injury for more than a year, Bridgewater was really just grateful to be back in the Vikings’ locker room and on the field with his teammates last season.

The quarterback, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free-agent once the new league year begins on March 14, recently spoke to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin and talked about how much he enjoyed 2017 in Minnesota.

"“It was probably my favorite season by far, even though I didn’t play much. This season challenged my mindset because as bad as I wanted to be out there playing, being the competitor that I am, I wanted to go to war and go to battle with my guys, I had to be out there in a different aspect. I had to be there for the guys mentally.”"

Bridgewater also discussed how being the backup to Case Keenum last season helped improve other aspects of his game.

Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings /

Minnesota Vikings

"“As the number two, you have to always stay ready, stay locked in. That was different for me because I had never been in that position. But it helped me because I saw the game from a different view. The game has slowed down so much because I could see it from the sidelines.”"

His comments about last season may be a little surprising to some, considering he was only on the field for a total of nine plays. But Bridgewater has always tried to find the positive in everything, especially since he suffered his knee injury in 2016.

It’s still unknown if the quarterback will be return to Minnesota next season, but he has said in the recent past that he wants to be a starter somewhere in 2018. If that is truly the case, then the Vikings may be Bridgewater’s best option considering how familiar the team is with the quarterback’s progression since his injury.

Next: Where will Case Keenum end up in 2018?

Then it’s just up to whether or not Minnesota is ready to hand over the starting job back to Bridgewater next season or continue to roll with Keenum.

Home/Minnesota Vikings News