EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Vikings on Saturday activated quarterback Sam Bradford to the 53-man roster.

Minnesota waived tight end Kyle Carter to create a roster spot for Bradford.

Bradford has practiced the past two weeks.

Minnesota had a bye during the Wild Card round and is preparing to host New Orleans on Sunday in a Divisional game.

Bradford started against the Saints in Week 1 and completed 27 of 32 passes for 346 yards with three scores and a career-best passer rating of 143.0.

He suffered a knee injury during the game that sidelined him in Weeks 2, 3 and 4, when the Vikings first turned to Case Keenum.

Bradford started in Week 5 at Chicago, but left just before halftime. Keenum relieved him and completed 17 of 21 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown to help Minnesota secure a 20-17 victory at always-perplexing Soldier Field.

That win started eight in a row with Keenum under center.

Keenum finished the season 325-of-481 passing for 3,547 yards with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions and a passer rating of 98.3, the fifth-highest by a Vikings quarterback in a season.

Keenum's completion percentage of 67.6 ranked second in the NFL among qualifying passers behind Saints quarterback Drew Brees, whose 72.0 rate edge past Bradford's 2016 mark of 71.6 for a new NFL record.

The Vikings were 11-3 in the regular season with Keenum as a starter.