Vikings Lose Quarterback to Injury

By ESPN

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a dislocated knee and a torn ACL when he went down during a noncontact drill at practice Tuesday, ending his 2016 season.

"Teddy suffered a complete tear to his ACL and other structural damage," the team said in a statement Tuesday evening after Bridgewater underwent an MRI. "Fortunately, there appears to be no nerve or arterial damage."

Bridgewater dropped back to pass during a drill, planted his foot and immediately went down. Trainers rushed to his side and began inflating an aircast, and the quarterback appeared to be holding his left leg.

Several players threw their helmets and shouted expletives as they scattered, and many simultaneously dropped to one knee in prayer. Moments later, a siren-blaring ambulance pulled into the team's Winter Park headquarters, stayed for about 10 minutes and then pulled away.

The team called off Tuesday's practice -- its last of the preseason -- after Bridgewater was injured.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he briefly spoke with Bridgewater after the injury and said he told the 23-year-old, "Hang in there. We're with him. Hope for the best."

Bridgewater was still on the practice field grass as the team's public relations staff ushered reporters from the premises.

"Today is a disappointing day. ... The No. 1 thing is Teddy is such a great kid," Zimmer said. "Everyone loves him."

Players were visibly distraught as they exited the field, and Zimmer said he spoke with the team prior to addressing the media.

"We're gonna grieve today and be upset about it," Zimmer told reporters. "It's more about our feelings for Teddy and for him as a person and getting better than it is about anything else. Teddy's a great kid, and he'll be back as soon as he possibly can, if it is real bad. But we're going to keep fighting."

Chicago Bears

Coach John Fox refused to reveal who he intended to play in Thursday's exhibition finale, but he stressed that Browns coach Hue Jackson's decision to play Cleveland's starters will have no impact on the Bears. "I think we kind of know what we're going to do," Fox said. "We pretty much keep that to ourselves until we get out there. What they do won't impact what we do." Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long will not play Thursday, but the Bears are hopeful Long can practice next week in advance of the season opener against Houston. "I think it's fair to say he won't play this week against Cleveland -- but we're anticipating him at least being back out there to get ready for Houston," Fox said. -- Jeff Dickerson

Indianapolis Colts

The good thing about the Colts signing cornerback Antonio Cromartie more than two weeks before the regular season starts is that it allows him to get into better shape after having to wait all offseason before a team signed him. "He's getting better," coach Chuck Pagano said. "He hasn't played football. He's in good shape, but there's a difference between LA Fitness shape and training camp shape, right? He's getting better. I'm glad we have a little bit more time." Cromartie probably will start with Patrick Robinson in Week 1 against Detroit because Vontae Davis is still out because of an ankle injury. -- Mike Wells