Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder, who was named the starter for Thursday, will be without tight end Kyle Rudolph for at least four to six weeks. The Vikings' defense, meanwhile, reportedly has gripes about their coaching staff.
The Josh Freeman Experiment received another nail in the coffin with the announcement by Vikings coach Leslie Frazier that Ponder would start on Thursday against Washington.
"As we speak, I don't see why we would make a change," Frazier said on Sunday of the quarterback position, via the St. Paul Pioneer Express. "Sometimes after ballgames you make emotional decisions, but I don't see anything that tells me he shouldn't start against the Redskins."
Minnesota fell to 1-7 on Sunday with a loss to Dallas. Still, Ponder built on a decent performance last week and helped to keep the Vikings alive against Dallas. Ponder finished the game with 25 of 37 passes completed for 236 yards, one touchdown and one interception; he also lost one fumble.
While his performance wasn't stellar, the Vikings' coaching staff evidently believes Ponder gives the team the best chance to win.
Ponder gets his third straight start, but he'll have to make do without one of his favorite end-zone targets. Rudolph will miss four to six weeks after injuring his foot on Sunday, according to FOX Sports' Jay Glazer.
"Just got a text from Kyle Rudolph. Broke his foot, he's out 4-6 weeks," Glazer tweeted on Monday. "Not Lis Franc but different kind of fracture."
The Vikings' defense, meanwhile, expressed frustration toward the coaching staff after the loss in Dallas. Defensive end Brian Robison and defensive tackle Kevin Williams questioned play calling on both sides of the football, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
"There's some things that are going on internally that are not allowing us to close out games," Robison told reporters after the game, via The Star Tribune.
Williams questioned why the offense didn't try to run out the clock with Adrian Peterson; both Robison and Williams questioned defensive coordinator Alan Williams' decision on the final drive not to pressure Tony Romo, who carved up the Vikings' secondary en route to the 27-23 win.
Kevin Williams added: "I think we could have been in better situations at the end of the game."