Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Sam Bradford Cleared of Structural Damage in Left Knee
Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback Sam Bradford didn't play in their 34–17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday due to an injury to his left knee, but there's a chance they might get him back on the field when they take on the Detroit Lions at home next Sunday.
ESPN has reported that Bradford met with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews last Friday, and he confirmed that the veteran quarterback's left knee did not sustain any structural damage and it will not require surgery. Dr. Andrews is the same doctor who performed the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgeries on his left knee in 2013 and 2014.
Bradford is considered week-to-week, but the Vikings still don't have a clear timetable for his return and they will continue to monitor his knee this week.
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The eight-year pro injured his knee in their season opener against the New Orleans Saints, and he missed the Vikings' game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.
Bradford was a limited participant in two practice on Wednesday and Thursday last week, but his knee didn't get better and he was eventually ruled out of their match against the Buccaneers.
Meanwhile, Bradford's replacement, Case Keenum, did a great job against the Buccaneers last Sunday by completing 25 of 33 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns, and Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was impressed with his performance.
"Case Keenum played outstanding. I usually don't give out game balls after a game. I thought he played great, made great decisions," Zimmer said, via the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Keenum is playing really well right now, but Zimmer has confirmed that Bradford will return to the starting lineup right away once he's healthy.
"Once Sam is ready, he's the quarterback," he stated. "It's really day to day. We'll just see how the week goes and go from there," he added.
