Frazier: Ponder Or Freeman Will Start Vs. Dallas
Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier says he will decide later this week whether Josh Freeman or Christian Ponder will start at quarterback against Dallas on Sunday.
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Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier says he will decide later this week whether Josh Freeman or Christian Ponder will start at quarterback against Dallas on Sunday.
Christian Ponder will start at quarterback for Minnesota against Green Bay on Sunday night, while Josh Freeman will be inactive after being cleared to practice. Next week's as-the-quarterback-carousel-turns episode has not been written yet, but the Vikings have their guy for the Packers game. Coach Leslie Frazier confirmed after practice on Friday that Ponder will start against the Vikings' bitter rival. Freeman reported concussion-like symptoms the day after his rough performance Monday night in a loss to the New York Giants. He passed the NFL's required tests and went through part of the workout with the Vikings on Friday, but this was too late in the week for him to catch up with the game plan and get ready to play.
The Minnesota Vikings are reeling from another embarrassing performance. Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said Tuesday that he wouldn't change his decision to start Josh Freeman at quarterback against the New York Giants on Monday night. Freeman struggled through a 20-for-53 passing night in the 23-7 loss.
The Minnesota Vikings have ruled starting safety Harrison Smith out for the game against the New York Giants on Monday night because of turf toe on his left foot. Smith was injured Sunday against Carolina, and the Vikings fear the injury could require surgery.
When the Minnesota Vikings take the field Monday night to face the New York Giants, they'll start their third different quarterback of the season. Coach Leslie Frazier announced Wednesday that newly-acquired quarterback Josh Freeman will get the start.
The Minnesota Vikings are a mess. They've allowed 31.6 points per game, third most in the league. The offense has plenty of problems, too, as evidenced by the two interceptions and four punts on nine possessions in a lopsided loss to Carolina. Still, coach Leslie Frazier says he believes the Vikings have the right players on the roster to improve, and he's certain that will happen. The Vikings (1-4) play the winless New York Giants (0-6) this week.
Minnesota's quarterback this weekend will be Matt Cassel or Christian Ponder, not Josh Freeman. If Ponder has healed from his broken rib, Coach Leslie Frazier said, he will return as the starter. If Ponder is still hurt, Cassel will keep the job. Beyond Sunday's game against Carolina, well, there's no guarantee for anyone. The Vikings were finalizing Freeman's contract Monday, four days after the 25-year-old was cut by Tampa Bay. He didn't make it in time for practice but was scheduled to arrive later, and Freeman and general manager Rick Spielman were scheduled to address reporters in an evening conference call.
Most of the Minnesota Vikings fans, and even many of the players, seem to have made a decision on who should start at quarterback when their team comes out of the bye. Coach Leslie Frazier isn't ready make that call just yet.
The Minnesota Vikings got on the jet back to the United States with newfound reasons to believe they can salvage this season. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, an unsuccessful London trip means it already could be time to start looking toward next year.
Matt Cassel will start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in place of injured Christian Ponder against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. The Vikings said Friday that Cassel will replace Ponder, who sustained a fractured rib in last weekend's 31-27 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The Minnesota Vikings are wondering if all the quality time they are spending together in London is really what they need to turn their season around. Minnesota plays the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, an NFL International Series matchup featuring a pair of 0-3 teams.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder's playing status for Sunday's NFL game in London against the Pittsburgh Steelers is in doubt because of a rib injury. Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said that practice on Wednesday will "be a big signal in what direction we'll have to go," with a decision expected by Friday.
Jordan Cameron caught three touchdown passes in Hoyer's second career start, including the go-ahead grab in the back of the end zone with 51 seconds left, and the Browns kept the Vikings winless with a 31-27 victory Sunday.
The Minnesota Vikings will be without fullback Rhett Ellison when they play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Ellison was listed as out for the game because of a knee injury that sidelined him from practice all week. The Vikings are already missing starting fullback Jerome Felton, who is serving the final game of a three-game suspension stemming from a DUI arrest two years ago. Coach Leslie Frazier says the Vikings will lean on rookie Zach Line and veteran tight end John Carlson. Line is a converted running back still learning the position.
Christian Ponder has a lot more to prove if the Minnesota Vikings are going to commit to him as their quarterback beyond this year.
The Minnesota Vikings never had to worry about their offensive line last season. With everyone coming back this year, they figured that unit would be the least of their concerns in 2013. But the big guys up front were shaky in the preseason, and that carried over in a season-opening loss to Detroit. Now one of the chief focuses heading into Chicago this weekend is getting the group back to its once-dominant form.
There wasn't much to feel good about after the Vikings' season-opening loss at Detroit Sunday and Leslie Frazier's message today couldn't have been clearer.
Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder is under plenty of scrutiny after just one game this season. The third-year quarterback struggled with his accuracy Sunday during a 34-24 loss at Detroit.
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams has been ruled out for the season opener Sunday against Detroit. Coach Leslie Frazier said on Friday that Williams was not able to practice all week. The coach believes his star defensive tackle is close to returning, but not quite ready to play.
Kevin Williams appears to have avoided disaster on a hit to his right knee that could've done much more damage.
Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier says he is hopeful he will have defensive tackle Kevin Williams back from a knee injury in time for the season opener at Detroit. Williams was injured on a low block in a game against San Francisco on Sunday night.
The Minnesota Vikings raced forward with their rebuilding project last season by finishing 10-6 and reaching the playoffs ahead of expectations, a feel-good ride behind those 2,097 yards rushing by Adrian Peterson.
Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Leslie Frazier says defensive tackle Kevin Williams is fortunate that there was no injury to any of his ligaments after a hard hit to his right knee in Sunday's game.
A pair of NFC playoff contenders sure brought their physical, hard-hitting styles to a preseason matchup in late August. Enough that the Minnesota Vikings were considering sending one particular play to the NFL for review after their 34-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.
As training camp closes down for the Minnesota Vikings, the team has once again bought into the abilities of their third-year quarterback Christian Ponder. So, the team is his to command – for now.
