Sam Bradford will return from knee injury for ‘Monday Night Football’ game vs. Bears

Sam Bradford will return to field for the first time since Week 1 to face off against Mitchell Trubisky and the Chicago Bears on Monday night, according to NFL Network’s Stacey Dales. Bradford missed the last three games due to a left knee injury he suffered shortly after the Vikings’ Week 1 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

What happened?

After the Vikings defeated the Saints on Monday night, Bradford experienced pain in his left knee and underwent an MRI the next day. His knee was swollen after the game, too, but the MRI did not reveal any structural damage. However, since Bradford underwent ACL surgery on his left knee in 2013 and 2014, the scan could not provide a clear picture on the knee.

From this point on, Bradford’s availability for Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers was in jeopardy. The Vikings listed him as a game-time decision for that game, but he was ultimately ruled out for Week 2. Backup quarterback Case Keenum started for Bradford, and the Vikings lost, 26-9.

Following the loss, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said Bradford was day to day. The Vikings ruled him out once again for their Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bradford received a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews, who surgically repaired his left knee in 2013 and 2014. On Sunday, Sept. 24, Andrews confirmed Bradford only suffered a bone bruise.

Bradford didn’t practice last week, and Zimmer ruled him out against the Detroit Lions. However, he returned to practice this week and felt much better than the last time he was on the field:

Zimmer said all along that Bradford will play when he’s ready, and now, he’s ready.

Keenum turned in one of the best games of his career in a win over the Buccaneers but then being held to just seven points against the Lions a week later. Minnesota went 1-2 during Bradford’s absence.

What does this mean for the Vikings and Bradford?

The Vikings’ playoffs chances increase with Bradford back under center. Keenum vacillated between poor and great while filling in over the past three games, but he’s realistically the team’s third choice behind Bradford and another injured starter, Teddy Bridgewater.

Bradford definitely dodged a major bullet. If he would have torn his left ACL for the third time in his career, he would have missed the season — and the Vikings probably wouldn’t re-sign him in 2018. Bradford missed 25 games in his career because of two consecutive ACL tears.

However, Bradford isn’t completely healthy.

“At this point, you’re going to have to play through some discomfort,” Bradford said after practice Friday. “I would like it to be 100 percent, but I don’t even know if that’s possible until the bye week or the end of the year.”

As of right now, though, the Vikings and Bradford can divert their attention to winning games to eventually clinch a playoff spot. But, again, the Vikings will only go as far as Bradford takes them.