Quarterback injuries taking toll on Colts, Vikings
The NFL season is only entering its third week, and already two teams that many believe would make playoff runs are scuffling without their starting quarterbacks.
The Minnesota Vikings looked terrific in Week 1, beating the New Orleans Saints 29-19 behind Sam Bradford’s 346 passing yards and three touchdowns. However, Bradford ended up on the injury report with a knee ailment throughout the following week and couldn’t play against the Pittsburgh Steelers seeing Minnesota fall 26-9 with Case Keenum in his stead.
Meanwhile, the Colts were supposed to be a threat to the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans in the AFC South. With Chris Ballard replacing the often-critized Ryan Grigson, it seemed that hope was returned to Naptown. Instead, the Colts might be the worst team in the league after losing 46-9 on opening day to the Los Angeles Rams, before blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, falling 16-13 in overtime.
Andrew Luck has not been cleared to practice and while there has been talk that he’s throwing a football following his offseason shoulder surgery, nobody, including Chuck Pagano, has seen it. Indianapolis has been clumsy and flat-out dishonest about the subject it would seem, unless you prefer to believe the organization is grossly incompetent. Unfortunately, the latter may apply.
Moving forward, there is uncertainty surrounding both clubs. Minnesota hasn’t given any real update on Bradford, other than to say he’s day-to-day. Of course, that could mean that he’s back on the field this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or that we won’t see him for a month. Minnesota officially listed Bradford as limited in practice on Wednesday, the first of three designations we’ll see for him this week.
As for the Colts, Luck has already been ruled out for Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns. Without him, Jacoby Brissett will be the starting quarterback, having taken over for Scott Tolzien only one half into the season. Brissett was acquired on the eve of the season opener from the New England Patriots, and has already usurped Tolzien, telling you all you need to know about the quarterback situation.
For Minnesota, there is at least hope. The NFC has a bevy of good teams but none are running away with the conference as the clear favorite. The Vikings are only a game back of the Detroit Lions in the NFC North and sit tied with the division-darling Green Bay Packers. In other words, if Bradford can get healthy and back on the field, there’s o reason to panic.
Indianapolis, on the other hand, is in real trouble. It doesn’t appear Luck is anywhere close to getting on the field and by the time he does, the season could be long over. It’s tough to see the Colts climbing back into the playoff picture, even in the woeful AFC South.
