The Minnesota Vikings just continue to rotate quarterbacks week in and week out. The team has struggled with consistency at the position in both health and productivity. They have three starting quarterbacks on the roster and so far all three have underperformed on the year. After yet another injury, the Vikings Week 14 starter remains unknown.
Christian Ponder earned the start against the Chicago Bears, but left the game right before halftime after suffering a concussion. Ponder took a helmet-to-helmet hit while attempting a pass to Greg Jennings and left the field for the locker room to be evaluated. Ponder had been looking better in recent weeks despite the Vikings' record. In the tie against Green Bay, he threw for 233 yards and a touchdown while completing 70 percent of his passes for no interceptions.
After the concussion, backup Matt Cassel stepped in and helped seal the win for the Vikings. Before getting hurt, Ponder had been sacked three times by the Bears, but Cassel managed to put up 243 yards in relief.
"It's unfortunate that Christian got injured," head coach Leslie Frazier said. "It's great that Matt came in and did the things he did. We'll sit down on Monday and talk about where we are and figure out where Christian is, health-wise, over the course of the week."
Frazier was adamant in saying that if Ponder was cleared for play then he would certainly be in consideration to earn the starting spot next week. Ponder has lost the starting job once before the Cassel after suffering a rib injury. This season, Cassel has 857 yards passing and five touchdowns while playing in just five games.
There is also the issue of Josh Freeman who continues to sit on the bench for the Vikings. The quarterback came over to the team after being released by Tampa Bay, but after struggling in one start against the Giants Freeman has not seen the field since. Many wonder what his purpose is in Minnesota, something Frazier is remaining very coy about.
"[H]e's working hard, doing everything he can in practice and in meetings to continue to improve and put himself in a position to at some point, to help our team," Frazier said, via the Pioneer Press. "But yeah, we're pleased with his work ethic and the way he's progressing."
For now, Ponder and Cassel will compete to start. Ponder will undergo all of the NFL protocols for concussion diagnosis. The results will determine the Week 14 starter.
