A Minnesota Vikings roster and schedule update indicated that the team placed quarterback Matt Cassel on injured reserve on Wednesday after sustaining broken bones in his left foot on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Cassel, who has completed 41-of-71 passes for 425 yards this season, confirmed that he will not return this season, expressing frustration about the development because he was expecting big things this year.
"You work so hard in the offseason to give yourself an opportunity to go out there and play, and then to have it happen this early in the season, especially with the belief that I have in this team, the thoughts of going on and having a lot of success this year, and for it to happen this early is super devastating to me," Cassel said.
With Cassel out for the season, the Vikings will now lean on rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who was Minnesota's 32nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Cassel was named as the starting quarterback during the offseason, but the Vikings made it no secret that they have big plans for Bridgewater. Now that he will be making his first start in the NFL, the 21-year-old said in a Minnesota Vikings roster and schedule update that he is not feeling any pressure.
"It's no pressure on me and it's not all about me," Bridgewater said via ESPN. "It takes a team effort to win football games and we have 11 guys on defense who are going to play their tails off. We have 11 guys on special teams and 10 other guys on the offensive side of the ball that are going to be out there competing for one another."
The former Louisville standout substituted for Cassel during their match against the Saints and made immediate impact, completing 12-of-20 passes for 150 yards, but it was not enough as Minnesota took their second loss in three games.
Coach Mike Zimmer said in a Minnesota Vikings roster and schedule update that Bridgewater has shown that he is ready to start in the NFL since their training camp, saying: "Honestly, I think he's been ready since the day he walked in."
The Vikings will look to bounce back on Sunday when they take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday before facing the Green Bay Packers next Thursday.
