Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s status remains up in the air eight months after he suffered a devastating knee injury in training camp, and it would appear his future with the team is just as uncertain.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Vikings are unlikely to pick up the fifth-year option on Bridgewater’s rookie contract. Exercising the option would guarantee the 24-year-old $11 million for the 2018 season, which is a very reasonable price for a starting quarterback. However, the problem for the Vikings is they don’t know when or if Bridgewater will be their starting quarterback again.
If Minnesota picks up Bridgewater’s option and he doesn’t end up playing, they would still be required to pay him.
“The injury guarantee makes it tough to do,” a source told Schefter.
Bridgewater, a first-round pick in 2014, could still remain in Minnesota beyond next season. There’s a possibility the Vikings will try to work out an extension with him, though it would likely be one that protects the team in the event that he can’t fully recover from the torn ACL and dislocated knee he suffered last August.
We have heard differing reports about whether or not Bridgewater will be able to play in 2017, and the recent comments made by his coach did not sound promising.
