Vikings, Bridgewater say durability isn't a concern for rookie QB

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Questions about his dismal Pro Day, the use of gloves, arm strength, durability; Teddy Bridgewater heard it all leading up to being a first-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings.

For all his collegiate success, the skeptics and draft analysts worried particularly about Bridgewater's slight frame. He never missed a game in his three years at Louisville. But in projecting measurables, Bridgewater's 210 pounds on his 6-foot-2 body was considered too skinny.

How would he be able to stand up to the bigger, stronger athletes in the NFL?

Unfortunately, Teddy Bridgewater's first NFL start did little to sway the opinion. While he threw for a team-record 317 yards passing for a rookie and rushed for a touchdown, a sprained left ankle would keep him from finishing a 41-28 win.

"I want to be the guy for 10-plus years," Bridgewater said Wednesday. "I want to have longevity in my career. So I feel that I don't have to prove anything, but at the same time I would like to be out there every opportunity that I get."

Bridgewater is set to return from his ankle injury this week as Minnesota hosts the Detroit Lions and their top-ranked defense. The Vikings' rookie quarterback, drafted with the final pick of the first round of the draft, was back at practice this week and is expected to start Sunday.

"Fine, good," head coach Mike Zimmer said of how Bridgewater has looked this week. "No concern."

The sprained ankle had little to do with Bridgewater's size or durability. He classified the sprain as a non-contact injury. Yet, with only four days before Minnesota played again, Bridgewater was unable to recover in time.

Bridgewater was inactive for last week's game at Green Bay, a disappointing 42-10 loss. The first game he's missed in his career because of injury was difficult to watch.

"It was very hard," Bridgewater said. "Especially being a competitor, you always want to be out there with the guys."

Bridgewater's competitive side helped him always be there with his teammates. He played in all 39 games at Louisville, starting all but one.

Even with a broken wrist and sprained ankle, Bridgewater would come off the bench to lead Louisville to a win against Rutgers and earn a BCS berth in 2012. Forced to play completely out of the shotgun because of the wrist injury, Bridgewater went 20-of-28 passing for 263 yards and two touchdowns.

The Vikings had no concerns about Bridgewater's ability, or durability, to play on Sundays.

"We didn't see any durability issues," Zimmer said. "His frame is what it is, but he's a pretty elusive, quick athlete. He's pretty smart, as well. He knows when to get down."

Playing through injury is often a point of pride. Bridgewater's Minnesota teammates saw how he tried to work through the pain last week. They gave the rookie quarterback credit for understanding he couldn't play.

"You have to respect him because a lot of young guys would go out there and try to do it just because, peer pressure, if you will, or just showing toughness," wide receiver Greg Jennings said. "But toughness isn't always shown by what you can do physically. It's mental toughness too and he definitely has it."

After another failed start by Christian Ponder last week, Bridgewater returns to the starting lineup. He spent last week trying to rehabilitate his ankle injury, but couldn't make enough progress to play in Thursday's game at Green Bay and Zimmer eventually made the decision to hold out Bridgewater.

There is no doubting his return this week.

Bridgewater said his ankle is "feeling good" and he doesn't plan to play with any special brace on the ankle. He will have the ankle taped up and doesn't believe his mobility will be limited in any way.

"The training staff here has done a great job of just helping me get that strength back in my ankle, so on Sunday I'll just be able to play at full speed," Bridgewater said.

Health aside, Bridgewater set a high standard with his record-setting first start. Expectations are immense for the hopeful franchise quarterback as he returns to the lineup.

"I think my expectations are probably as high as everybody else's," Zimmer said. "I understand that there will be some bumps and bruises along the way with all the young guys and young quarterbacks. But Teddy is a super competitor. He's got a lot of poise and he's got a lot of talent. I hope his expectations are high."

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