REPORT: Teddy Bridgewater expected to start in Week 17

The former Minnesota Vikings quarterback will make his first start since January of 2016 when he takes the field for the New Orleans Saints in Week 17.

Before Minnesota Vikings fans bickered back and forth about whether Kirk Cousins was worth his massive contract, the biggest arguments that destroyed holiday outings were whether or not Teddy Bridgewater was a franchise quarterback.

Vikings fans may never know for themselves what Bridgewater couldn’t have done if he didn’t suffer a gruesome knee injury in August of 2016. But they may get a small glimpse of the future next week as Bridgewater is expected to start under center for the New Orleans Saints in Week 17 according to The Athletic’s Larry Holder.

If he makes the start, it will be his first official start since the 2015 NFC Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks.

After that game, Bridgewater suffered his knee injury the following summer and missed the entire 2016 season and a majority of the 2017 campaign.

Although he only saw the field in mop up duty during Minnesota’s Week 15 blowout of the Cincinnati Bengals last December, he earned a standing ovation from the crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium.

As the Vikings shifted to Cousins as their new quarterback, Bridgewater signed a one-year deal that was worth up to $6 million with the New York Jets.

Once the Jets drafted Sam Darnold with the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft though, the former Minnesota quarterback became expendable. With a strong preseason performance this past summer (28-for-38, 316 yards, two touchdowns, one interception), the Jets were able to flip Bridgewater to the Saints for a 2019 third-round pick.

Since arriving in New Orleans, he’s sat behind future Hall of Famer Drew Brees. But Bridgewater has also been able to show his surgically-repaired knee is fine by busting out some sick dance moves during some of the Saints’ recent locker room celebrations.

Even though the game will have little impact for New Orleans, who have already clinched home-field advantage in this year’s NFC playoffs, it will definitely mean something to Bridgewater, who has had a long journey to finally get back to starting a NFL game.