Teddy Bridgewater Releases Statement After Suffering Dislocated Knee, Torn ACL

Teddy Bridgewater, a Minnesota Vikings quarterback, suffered a dislocated knee and torn ACL at practice on Tuesday, the team announced in a statement.

Teddy Bridgewater Releases Statement After Suffering Dislocated Knee, Torn ACL

“After undergoing an MRI, it was determined that Teddy suffered a complete tear to his ACL and other structural damage,” the statement read. “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.”

The injury announcement was made roughly two hours after Bridgewater went down with a non-contact injury that ended the session after just 30 minutes.

The quarterback himself also released a statement, in which he expressed his gratitude to the Vikings organization, as well as his determination to fight his injury and make a strong return. The statement, released early Thursday, read:

“I want to thank the Wilf Family and the entire Vikings organization, all of my teammates, friends, Eric Sugarman and the amazing Vikings athletic training staff and the fans who have sent me messages and wished me well. Your thoughts and prayers mean a lot to me and have helped me in this difficult time. There are great players and great leaders in our locker room who are going to fight to the end to reach the goals we set for 2016. I will be there mentally, physically and in spirit to support them accomplish those goals.”

Bridgewater continued: “In order to have a testimony, you have to have a test. I come from amazing DNA, I watched my mom fight and win against breast cancer. We will, as a team, attack my rehab with the same vigor and energy. My faith is strong, my faith is unwavering and my vision is clear. My purpose will not be denied.”

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer stated the 23-year-old QB had to be sedated before undergoing an MRI at the hospital.

When asked if there was a chance Bridgewater could play this season, Zimmer responded, “It doesn’t look good right now.”

“We’re not going to stick our heads in the sand, tuck our tail between our legs,” Zimmer said about the bind Bridgewater’s injury could put the team in. “We’re not going to make excuses.

“Everybody can count us out but I think that’d be the wrong thing to do.”

Per the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Bridgewater was clutching his left knee at practice as teammates prayed around him.

Bridgewater was carried off the field in an ambulance to the hospital as his team feared the worst.

The QB only threw 14 touchdowns last season, although he led a run-first offense that helped Minnesota win the NFC North division and come within a missed field goal of defeating the Seahawks in the playoffs. Over his first two seasons, he passed for more yards than any quarterback in Vikings history over the same time frame. He also has the highest completion percentage (64.9) of any quarterback over his first two seasons in NFL history.

His 3,231 passing yards earned him a Pro Bowl bid and pushed the 2014 first-round pick into his third season.

This preseason, Bridgewater was 18 of 23 (78.3 percent) with 253, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Shaun Hill and Joel Stave are the team’s other quarterbacks.

Hill, 34, is 16-18 as a starter in his career.

“I have confidence in Shaun,” Zimmer said. “I think he’s played great this preseason. He’s been in two-minute drills. He’s done a phenomenal job.”

This offseason, the Vikings spent another first-round pick on a wide receiver — Laquon Treadwell — in the hopes that his playmaking ability could match Bridgewater’s potential as a franchise quarterback.

On Wednesday, the team officially placed Bridgewater on injured reserve and re-signed quarterback Brad Sorensen, who was recently waived by the team.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 10: Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Minnesota Vikings drops back in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at TCFBank Stadium on January 10, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)