Sam Bradford ‘earned the right’ to start for the Vikings in 2017, says Mike Zimmer

Teddy Bridgewater’s return from injury will be a well-documented story during the 2017 offseason for the Minnesota Vikings, but even if he’s back and ready to play, it’s possible the starting job may no longer be his. According to Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, Sam Bradford could be the favorite for the job next season.

“I think Sam played great this year, No. 1. I think he’s earned the right to be the starting quarterback,” Zimmer said at his season-end press conference. “Right now all I’m worried about is Teddy getting better ... But Sam has done remarkable with the things he’s done this year.”

Bridgewater, 24, suffered a serious knee injury just before the beginning of the 2016 season, tearing his ACL, dislocating his knee, and suffering other structural damage. More than four months removed from the injury, Zimmer still couldn’t provide too many details about the 2014 first-round pick’s recovery.

“With this injury that he has, it’s different with everyone,” Zimmer said of Bridgewater’s recovery. “There’s no exact injury where it’s all the same. Talking about an ACL, well there’s lots of those and they’re all the same. Well this one — some are with nerve damage, some are without nerve damage — there’s just so many variables with this particular injury.

“I do know this, Teddy is a guy who will do everything possible to get back as soon as he possibly can get back, and he’s a guy I would never bet against.”

When Bridgewater went down, the Vikings quickly traded away the team’s 2017 first-round pick and a fourth-round selection in 2018 to acquire Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles.

In 15 starts for Minnesota, Bradford completed 71.6 percent of his passes — an NFL single-season record for a starting quarterback. He finished the year with a career-best 3,877 passing yards along with 20 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

The Vikings started the season 5-0, but finished 8-8 after offensive line struggles made it difficult for the team to run the ball effectively or adequately protect Bradford.

Bradford has one more year on his contract with the Vikings and is scheduled to become a free agent in 2018, while the team has to decide this offseason whether or not it will pick up the fifth-year option on Bridgewater’s contract. If the Vikings opt to not pick up the club option, he will also be scheduled to reach free agency in 2018.