Bridgewater Passes 1st Concussion Test, Could Play Sunday
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) -- Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater appears to have dodged a big bullet after leaving Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams with a concussion.
Bridgewater was knocked out, literally, during the fourth quarter of the Vikings' 21-18 overtime win over the Rams on Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium. Bridgewater was on the run and went into a sliding motion. Lamarcus Joyner came in for a tackle and lowered his elbow into Bridgewater's helmet, which caused his head to slam on the turf.
Immediately after the hit, Bridgewater was motionless on the field and appeared to have his eyes closed for a short time. He did not return in the game and was diagnosed with concussion systems.
Coach Mike Zimmer and the rest of the Vikings team was furious about the play, calling Joyner's hit cheap and a dirty play. After Blair Walsh kicked a game-winning field goal, Zimmer barely acknowledged Rams coach Jeff Fisher in the postgame handshake. In Zimmer's postgame news conference, he went out of his way to call the hit on Bridgewater a dirty play and said his team "played a clean game."
Several of Bridgewater's teammates also said after Sunday's win that the play was dirty and they expected to get that type of play from the Rams.
Zimmer said Monday that Bridgewater passed the first test mandated by the NFL when a player suffers a concussion. Assuming he clears the other tests, Bridgewater is expected to play Sunday when the Vikings face the Oakland Raiders.
According to reports, Joyner is unlikely to be suspended but he is still subject to a fine by the NFL.
Zimmer said cornerback Terence Newman has also passed his first post-concussion test after a head injury forced him out of the game Sunday. Linebacker Anthony Barr had X-rays for an injury to his left arm, but Zimmer said he should be fine.
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