Vikings GM: Teddy Bridgewater 'not cleared for practice' as knee rehab continues
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman says the team posted video online of Teddy Bridgewater's rehabilitation work Tuesday because the quarterback was going to miss the first OTA practice open to reporters, and they wanted to show his progress.
Bridgewater, who had a regularly scheduled medical appointment Wednesday as he continues to recover from a major knee injury suffered Aug. 30, hasn't been cleared for practice. Spielman wouldn't say if there's a chance Bridgewater could be ready for training camp this summer, saying the sole focus is on rehab.
"Part of the rehab process that you've seen yesterday was that he is able to start dropping back and throwing the ball," Spielman told reporters as practice began Wednesday. "He is not cleared for practice, so I want to make that perfectly clear. But he is working extremely hard in his rehab, and we'll continue to monitor his progress as he goes."
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The Vikings have consistently declined to put a timetable on Bridgewater's possible return. The most logical scenario has long been that he opens the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, allowing the team to re-evaluate his progress in October.
The team recently declined to pick up the fifth-year option on the 2014 first rounder's contract.
Asked what the next step is in Bridgewater's recovery, Spielman said: "We'll continue to monitor that. As it goes day to day, can he do a little bit more? I don't know where that's going. We'll just take it a day at a time."
Sam Bradford is set to enter his second season as the Vikings' starting quarterback, and the team signed Case Keenum as a veteran backup option in March.
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