Sam Bradford Warmup Session Hints He May Be Out

Sam Bradford was tremendous in his 2017 debut for the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately old habits seem to die hard with the quarterback.

Most know by now the former #1 overall pick has a long, painful history of knee problems. He’s suffered multiple torn ACLs in addition to other nagging problems. That’s the biggest reason he hasn’t been able to stick with a team up to this point. Nobody has been able to trust he can stay health. Last year it finally felt like a turning point. He finished 2016 strong without any health concerns, leading some to think Minnesota had finally found their golden arm.

That was rudely smacked down when news leaked out Bradford was dealing with a knee issue following the game. By reports it hasn’t improved much since then. Initially he was declared questionable for the matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers and a game-time decision. Reporters on site caught him going through warmups and were surprised by what happened.

The fact he never really tested the knee and cut the warmups short is almost a surefire sign that the team will keep him out for the game. Teddy Bridgewater is not yet recovered from his own knee problem. Risking further damage against an aggressive Steelers defense would be unwise. This could mean journeyman veteran Case Keenum might get the start.

Keenum has thrown for 5,224 yards, 24 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in his career. He’s got some mobility and a decent arm to him but he only signed with the team this offseason. His knowledge of the offense at this point can best be called rudimentary. Asking him to keep up with Ben Roethlisberger and that loaded Pittsburgh offense is a bit much.

This means the Vikings defense and running game will be expected to carry the load today. Whether that’s enough is a good question.