Vikings: Surgery gives Bridgewater reason to be 'optimistic'
The rehabilitation of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's left knee will require recovery from multiple ligament reconstruction.
The team issued a statement on Friday from director of sports medicine and head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman, revealing that the surgery the day before was performed in Dallas by Dr. Dan Cooper at the Carrell Clinic. The dislocation of Bridgewater's knee during practice on Aug. 30 resulted in a complete tear of his anterior cruciate ligament, accompanied by other significant damage as initially announced by the Vikings.
Sugarman's statement didn't specify what that was, only that more than one of the four ligaments needed reconstruction. Beside the ACL, there's the lateral collateral ligament, the medial collateral ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament. The ACL is damaged more often, but injury to the lesser-known PCL can also be a challenge to bounce back from.
Coach Mike Zimmer said he didn't know the specifics of Bridgewater's ligament situation.
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"I don't know all the fancy words. It was what they typically do on a dislocation," the coach said. "I talked to him yesterday and texted him last night, so he's in good spirits."
Bridgewater is expected back in Minnesota in about a week.
"One of the things he said was he can't wait to get back here and be around the guys, so I'm sure he'll try to be around," Zimmer said, "but the most important thing for him is to try to do the rehab."
Sugarman, who was in Dallas to observe the surgery, said the repair was "excellent" and will give Bridgewater "every reason to be very optimistic" about his recovery.
"Teddy already began the rehab process yesterday, will return to Minnesota to continue on the road to recovery very soon and looks forward to getting back on the field," Sugarman said.
Either Sam Bradford or Shaun Hill will be on the field Sunday for the season opener at Tennessee, and Zimmer again declined to reveal who will start. He said after practice on Friday that he's already decided, though.
Has he told the team?
"Maybe," Zimmer said.
So, Bradford or Hill?
"I guess we'll find out on Sunday," he said.