Mike Zimmer says Sam Bradford has 'earned the right' to be Vikings' QB

The Minnesota Vikings made the necessary move this past offseason by trading for Sam Bradford after Teddy Bridgewater suffered a severe knee injury. They sent the Eagles a first-rounder and a conditional fourth-round pick, attempting to save their season and Super Bowl hopes.

Perhaps the Vikings made the trade with 2017 in mind, too. During his press conference on Tuesday, Mike Zimmer hinted that Bradford, not Bridgewater, might be the Vikings’ starting quarterback next season.

“I think Sam has played great this year, No. 1,” Zimmer said, via TwinCities.com. “I think he’s earned the right to be the starting quarterback, and right now all I’m worried about is Teddy getting better. … Sam has done remarkable, the things he’s done this year with all the things that he’s had to do.”

Zimmer said he expects Bridgewater to play again but declined to comment on when that might be.

“Teddy is a guy that will do everything possible to get back as soon as he possibly can get back, and he would be a guy that I would never bet against,” Zimmer said.