Just when Minnesota Vikings fans had a brief moment of excitement, the football fates deal them another blow.
Rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will start in place for the injured Matt Cassel when the Vikings host the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday. However, the young signal caller will not have starting tight end Kyle Rudolph to throw to due to a groin injury suffered in Sunday's 20-9 loss to the New Orleans Saints that will require sports hernia surgery. The surgery is expected to keep Rudolph out about six weeks, Pro Football Talk reports. Rudolph has been targeted 17 times this season, second most on the team behind Greg Jennings. Rudolph has 16 career touchdown catches.
Rudolph's injury is another blow to a team that recently placed Adrian Peterson on the NFL's exempt list amid child abuse charges. As if it weren't hard enough for a rookie quarterback, Bridgewater will now have to face the Falcons (2-1) without one of his best red zone threats.
The first-round rookie QB completed 12 of 20 pass attempts for 150 yards in replacement duty this weekend. Rudolph will be replaced by Rhett Ellison and MarQueis Gray.