4. Teddy Bridgewater blows out his knee (2016)
Teddy Bridgewater was Minnesota’s first-round pick in 2014 after the organization gave up on Christian Ponder. He started 12 games that year before he was named the full-time starter in 2015.
In his second year, Bridgewater showed flashes of the athleticism that made him a star at the University of Louisville. As the Vikings went 11-5, Bridgewater passed for 3,231 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Bridgewater was ready for an even better 2016 when he sustained a torn ACL and severe knee damage during a practice at the end of August. Minnesota then made a trade with Philadelphia to bring in Sam Bradford as Bridgewater’s replacement.
Bradford actually passed for a career-high 3,877 yards that year, but the Vikings could tally only eight wins and missed the playoffs.
Bridgewater remained out of action for all but one appearance in 2017, and he was released by Minnesota after the season. Bridgewater has since been a member of a number of organizations, primarily in a backup role.