Statement from Vikings Director of Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Trainer Eric Sugarman on Teddy Bridgewater:
Teddy Bridgewater suffered a non-contact injury today at practice. The injury was quickly identified as a dislocated knee. The injury was stabilized, and he was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and evaluation. After undergoing an MRI, it was determined that Teddy suffered a complete tear to his ACL and other structural damage. Fortunately, there appears to be no nerve or arterial damage. Surgical repair will be scheduled within the next few days. Although the recovery time will be significant, we expect Teddy to make a full recovery. I would like to thank all of the medical professionals and our athletic training staff for all of their help today. Teddy has already displayed the attitude needed to overcome this injury and attack his rehab.
As bad as this injury is it could have been much worse. Some of the early reports actually had it much worse. Social media can be a nightmare at times. How anyone can make up b.s. reports and report them as fact is beyond me but that nonsense is for another day. Bridgewater can and will recover from this injury. From Chad Greenway to Adrian Peterson, the Vikings have had tremendous success in getting players with serious knee injuries back on the field. And stay on the field. No surgery is routine but ACL surgeries are no longer the gamble that they once were. Players routinely come back from them. The Vikings training staff led by Eric Sugarman are rehab-maestros. All Bridgewater has to do is follow the path and example set by Peterson in 2012. Perhaps he'll even have a return season similar to that of Peterson when he ran 2,097 yards and took home the NFL's MVP award.
As for the Minnesota Vikings in 2016. It's tough to think about that now. Personally, Teddy Bridgewater is such a great young man that I just feel bad for him. He's all class on and off the field. People loved him at the University of Louisville. So much so, that many of those Cardinals fans are Vikings fans now. People are drawn to him because he's just a good person. He's "Teddy" to just about everyone. That affection can be seen in the flood of thoughts and prayers from players and media from around the league. On the field, Bridgewater had worked so hard to put himself in this position. The starting quarterback and leader of a Vikings team that's talented enough to make a Super Bowl run. A beautiful new stadium. A fantastic head coach in Mike Zimmer. A young, talented football team. As Bridgewater said only a couple of days ago, "it's a great time to a Viking." Minnesota's 2016 season didn't end with this injury but a Super Bowl run got so much harder. But, it's not supposed to be easy.
"Everyone can count us out if they want, but I don't think that's the smart thing to do." -Mike Zimmer
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