EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is expected to miss at least the upcoming season while recovering from a dislocated left knee and torn anterior cruciate ligament after a freak practice injury on Tuesday.

Bridgewater was taken by ambulance to a hospital after crumpling to the turf during practice, and the team announced hours later that his knee also had “other structural damage” that will need to be repaired in a surgery that will be scheduled in the coming days. But the team did say he had no nerve or arterial damage and it expects a full recovery after a “significant” rehabilitation.

“Teddy has already displayed the attitude needed to overcome this injury and attack his rehab,” said Eric Sugarman, the director of sports medicine and head athletic trainer for the Vikings.

Bridgewater suffered a noncontact knee injury while dropping back to pass, and it was so jolting that Coach Mike Zimmer immediately ended practice. Players were visibly distraught as they left the field, some hurling expletives into the air and others kneeling in prayer for one of the team’s most popular players. Moments later, a siren-blaring ambulance rushed to team headquarters to get the quarterback to the hospital.

It was a somber scene for a shaken franchise, one that reported to training camp with designs on a Super Bowl run.

“Sometimes the worst things happen to the best (people),” Vikings receiver Jarius Wright tweeted. “God has a plan.”

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 Longtime center John Sullivan was in the first wave of cuts.

BUCCANEERS: Tampa Bay placed receiver Louis Murphy and guard J.R. Sweezy on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, meaning they’ll be sidelined for at least the first five games of the regular season.

DOLPHINS: Defensive end Dion Jordan was placed on the reserve non-football injury list, meaning he’s ineligible for the first six games of the season.

WASHINGTON: Washington released four-year starting linebacker Perry Riley and defensive lineman Stephen Paea as its continued to cut down to the 53-man roster.

GIANTS: New York finally made a move on to shore up an offensive line that has performed poorly in three preseason games, re-signing veteran Will Beatty, who was cut in February.

BENGALS: Cincinnati released receiver Brandon Tate – the franchise leader in punt returns – as part of its moves to reach the 75-man roster limit, leaving room for a rookie to take the job. Undrafted rookie Alex Erickson impressed during the preseason, with an 80-yard touchdown among his four punt returns. Second-round pick Tyler Boyd also returned a couple of punts, one of them for 24 yards.


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