Vikings' Zimmer expects Bradford to return to practice next week

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer announced Wednesday that he expects quarterback Sam Bradford will return to practice next week.

Bradford was placed on injured reserve Nov. 8 due to a knee injury.

He played the season opener against the New Orleans Saints, completing 27 of 32 pass attempts for 346 yards and three touchdowns. He then spent most of the next month sidelined by the knee injury before returning to start in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears. He'd play just under one half, completing five of 11 attempts for 36 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions.

Zimmer is still unsure whether Bradford will be available for the postseason.

Case Keenum has started 13 games for the Vikings and replaced Bradford on the final drive before halftime against the Bears.

Keenum has set career highs for completion percentage, passing yards, yards per attempt, touchdowns, and passer rating, after signing a one-year, $2-million contract with the Vikings in the offseason.

The fifth-year undrafted free agent has completed 304 of 452 pass attempts for 3,358 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while adding another 160 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Teddy Bridgewater also recently returned from his own gruesome knee injury to play for the first time since the conclusion of the 2015 season, as he entered the Vikings' Week 15 game against the Cincinnati Bengals with the win locked up in the fourth quarter.

All three quarterbacks are set to hit unrestricted free agency after the conclusion of the 2017 season.

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