Matt Cassel's season is over; Teddy Bridgewater's has just begun.
The Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday announced that Cassel has been placed on injured reserve after sustaining "several fractured bones" in his foot during Sunday's 20-9 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Cassel's campaign-ending injury propels Bridgewater into the starting role for good.
The rookie was calm under pressure against the Saints, completing 12 of 20 passes for 150 yards while providing a spark for a Vikings team still struggling to patch over the loss of All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson.
Minnesota initially planned to phase Bridgewater into the offense, but Cassel's significant injury only speeds up the inevitable. Why wait?
We've liked the combination of Bridgewater in Norv Turner's offense dating back to the first-rounder's encouraging preseason. He'll face only first-stringers now, but the Vikings -- already in reboot mode on offense after just three games -- have no reason (and no option) to wait on their quarterback of the future.
On the latest Around The NFL Podcast, the heroes chat with two-time MVP Kurt Warner, debate the NFL's top throwing arms and preview Thursday night's game.
