Sam Bradford active, will be Vikings' No. 2 QB vs. Saints

Sam Bradford, who was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, will be the Vikings' No. 2 quarterback on Sunday against the Saints. He's practiced only six times since being placed on injured reserve on Nov. 8

January 14, 2018 at 8:31PM
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) during practice at Winter Park. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ ï cgonzalez@startribune.com - January 3, 2018, Eden Prairie, MN, Winter Park, Minnesota Vikings practice
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) during practice at Winter Park. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ ï cgonzalez@startribune.com - January 3, 2018, Eden Prairie, MN, Winter Park, Minnesota Vikings practice (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The last time the Vikings played the New Orleans Saints, Sam Bradford threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in a 29-19 win. If the Vikings need to turn to a second quarterback in their NFC divisional playoff game against the Saints on Sunday, they'll put Bradford on the field for the first time since Oct. 9.

Bradford, who was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, will be the Vikings' No. 2 quarterback on Sunday against the Saints. He's practiced only six times since being placed on injured reserve on Nov. 8, and coach Mike Zimmer said Friday that Bradford "still has a long way to go." Ultimately, though, the Vikings decided to make Bradford, not Teddy Bridgewater, their No. 2 quarterback.

Sources who were privy to the Vikings' practices this week believed Bridgewater, not Bradford, would be the team's backup on Sunday. Instead, Bridgewater, who started the Vikings' most recent playoff game against the Seahawks in Jan. 2016, will watch their next one from the sideline. The Vikings had all four of their quarterbacks on the field for pregame warmups, putting Bridgewater through his full routine, but ultimately decided on Bradford.

The Vikings will also start Mike Remmers as their left guard and Rashod Hill as their right tackle, as it appeared they might do this week. Remmers is playing left guard after starting at right guard on Dec. 31 against the Chicago Bears, while the Vikings will trust Hill in pass protection at right tackle.

Here is the Vikings' full list of inactives:

QB Teddy Bridgewater

QB Kyle Sloter

WR Stacy Coley

RB Mack Browns

G Danny Isidora

C Cornelius Edison

DE Tashawn Bower

about the writer

about the writer

Ben Goessling

Sports reporter

Ben Goessling has covered the Vikings since 2012, first at the Pioneer Press and ESPN before becoming the Minnesota Star Tribune's lead Vikings reporter in 2017. He was named one of the top NFL beat writers by the Pro Football Writers of America in 2024, after honors in the AP Sports Editors and National Headliner Awards contests in 2023.

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