EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Vikings will keep the same starting quarterback this weekend as they have used the past three games, Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said Wednesday.
That means Case Keenum will make his seventh start of the season.
Zimmer said Teddy Bridgewater, who was activated to the 53-man roster Wednesday morning, will dress for Sunday's game in Washington.
Zimmer said he'll take a week-by-week approach in determining the starter for future games.
"We'll just see how it goes," Zimmer said. "We'll see where we are at, where we're going.
"Case has done great," Zimmer added. "We'll just keep going from there and see how this thing all plays out.
Zimmer said there won't be much that changes from a practice standpoint. Bridgewater began practicing three weeks ago and has received reps at quarterback, something Zimmer said with continue.
"Pretty much the same way we've been doing it all along," Zimmer said. "(Bridgewater) gets a few every period. Just trying to get him up to speed as fast as possible."
Keenum has completed 149 of 233 passes (63.9 percent) for 1,610 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. He has a passer rating of 88.8.
Bridgewater suffered a leg injury on Aug. 30, 2016, in a non-contact drill. He missed all of the 2016 season after throwing for 3,231 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading the Vikings to an 11-5 record and an NFC North title in 2015.
Here are three other topics Zimmer addressed during his session:
1. Getting Teddy ready
Bridgewater last played in a non-preseason game on Jan. 10, 2016, in Minnesota's Wild Card playoff loss to Seattle.
Zimmer credited the former first-round pick for working hard and enduring grueling rehab sessions to get back to this point.
"No different than what I've said before," Zimmer said. "He worked extremely hard. He's a great kid.
"It's a great success story from where he was to where he is now, and hopefully he continues to be," Zimmer added.
Zimmer said he has "100 percent" confidence in Bridgewater if he were to be called into action Sunday at Washington.
Zimmer noted that while Bridgewater hasn't played a meaningful game in almost two years, he likes the way the quarterback has looked in recent practices.
"He's doing excellent. He's moved well, thrown the ball well, good accuracy," Zimmer said. "He hasn't had training camp. He hasn't done anything. We're just trying to get him to where everybody feels comfortable with him."
According to Zimmer, Bridgewater has shown strong progression from when he began his rehab process.
"When he was rehabbing, before he started practicing, he was throwing to non-receivers, but since then he's been pretty good," Zimmer said. "There might have been one day he was a little rusty, but for the most part, I thought he's thrown the ball well."
2. Bradford goes on IR
Sam Bradford turned 30 on Wednesday, but his birthday was dampened by the fact the Vikings quarterback was placed on the Injured Reserve list.
Bradford started in Week 1 and had a monster game, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns. But he sustained a knee injury in the win, an issue that never fully healed over the past two months.
"It's disappointing. The guy worked extremely hard to try and get back," Zimmer said. "He spent a whole bunch of his own money trying everything. It just didn't work out.
"Hopefully we'll be able to get him back when he gets healthy," Zimmer added.
Zimmer said the Vikings expected Bradford to only be out a short time after the season opener. Bradford started in Week 5 against Chicago but was replaced by Keenum just before halftime.
"It was just lingering," Zimmer said. "We thought it was going to be a one-week deal. Then it was two, then it was three, then it was eight.
"Nothing else was working, and we had to try something," Zimmer added.
Zimmer confirmed that Bradford recently underwent a minor procedure on his knee.
"When they went in there, they just cleaned it out. It's not bone on bone," Zimmer said. "There's a lot of good things, but who knows? We didn't expect it to be this long."
Bradford is eligible to return to the roster after eight weeks, and Zimmer said that he could be an option to return for the postseason.
3. A tall task at Washington
The 6-2 Vikings will square off against Washington on Sunday at FedExField. Washington is 4-4 after rallying for a win this past weekend in Seattle.
Zimmer said Washington will present a stiff test on both sides of the ball.
"Defensively, they're really good up front," Zimmer said. "The two pass rushers, [Ryan] Kerrigan and [Preston] Smith, are handfuls. They're physical up front.
"They play a lot of tight coverage in the back end," Zimmer added. "[Josh] Norman and [Bashaud] Breeland, I think they did a good job there."
Washington's defense ranks 18th overall in yards allowed per game (336.9) and is 24th in points allowed per game (24.3).
Quarterback Kirk Cousins leads the offense. He ranks seventh in the NFL with 2,147 yards and has thrown for 13 touchdowns with four picks.
"Offensively they have a bunch of good tight ends that can really run and catch the ball, spread you around," Zimmer said. "Cousins does a nice job of getting the ball out quick. Excellent play action team. The two top-five picks [Trent Williams and Brandon Scherff] on the offensive line. They're a good football team."
