The Vikings lost their most indispensable player for the 2016 season. That player used to be running back Adrian Peterson. Now it's quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Bridgewater was ready to take his next big step as an NFL passer and leader, but sadly, he was derailed when he suffered a serious, non-contact knee injury during Tuesday's practice.
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Without their personable, likeable rising star, the Vikings are still left with a strong rushing offense and a loaded playmaking defense. But if they expect to power through Bridgewater's absence and remain an NFC playoff team simply by putting more on Peterson, it won't work.