Good news, Vikings fans. When the team heads to Lambeau Field for Thursday Night Football, the quarterback will be Teddy Bridgewater, not Christian Ponder.
Coach Mike Zimmer told reporters on Monday that Bridgewater’s MRI was negative. Despite suffering a sprained ankle against the Falcons, it appears that Bridgewater will be ready to play.
It’s an ironic twist on a high-profile trip to Lambeau less than two years ago, when Ponder was a surprise scratch from the playoff game against the Packers with an arm injury. Joe Webb got the start, and the Vikings got the boot.
Bridgewater had a stellar debut against the Falcons, who were hamstrung by the lack of game film from Bridgewater. The Packers will have a little bit more, and the Lions will have even more come Week Six.
That’ll be the challenge, eventually, for the Vikings and Bridgewater. Once opposing defenses have enough tape to figure out tendencies and tells and strengths and weaknesses, offensive coordinator Norv Turner and Bridgewater will need to find a way to bust through the ceiling.