Matt Cassel Injury: Updates on Vikings QB's Foot and Return

Updates from Wednesday, Sept. 24

The Vikings' official website announced bad news for Cassel:

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Today the Vikings announced the following roster moves:

Placed QB Matt Cassel and G Brandon Fusco on Injured Reserve.

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Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune spoke to Cassel following the news:

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'It’s disappointing professionally and personally,' Cassel said. 'You work so hard in the offseason to give yourself an opportunity to go out there and play, and then to have it happen this early in the season — especially with the belief that I have in this team, the thoughts of going on and having a lot of success this year — and for it to happen this early is super devastating to me. At the same time, now all your focus goes into your rehab and getting better and trying to get back on the field.'

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Cassel also discussed Teddy Bridgewater and the job he thinks the rookie will do under center.

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'I think Teddy will do a tremendous job for us and hopefully I can help him in a mentoring position and be able to help guide him and bring him along,' Cassel said.

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Updates from Monday, Sept. 22

Albert Breer of NFL.com reports on the next step for Matt Cassel and his injured foot:

Original Text

Matt Cassel's time as the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings may have just come to an end. 

The veteran, who battled rookie Teddy Bridgewater for the starting quarterback position during the preseason, went down to a toe injury during the team's game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3:

Around the NFL continued:

Cassel was later ruled out for the game (via Albert Breer of NFL.com):

Following the game, Mike Zimmer updated Cassel's status (via Breer):

Depending on how long Cassel's injury keeps him out of action—and depending on how Bridgewater plays in his place—Cassel may be losing his grip on the starting gig. Certainly, the Vikings view Bridgewater as the quarterback of the future anyway, so it seems logical to suggest that the team will probably give him every possible chance to hold on to the starting position. 

For Cassel, the demotion will come with the territory. The 32-year-old had stints with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs before coming to Minnesota. He turned a very strong season in place of Tom Brady in 2008—he threw for 3,693 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and nearly led the Pats into the postseason—into a starting gig with Kansas City from 2009 to 2011.

He missed half of the 2011 season after injuring his throwing hand, however, and he lost his job to Brady Quinn in 2012 before being cut from the team after that season. He did lead the Chiefs to the playoffs in 2010 and had arguably the best season of his professional career, throwing for 3,116 yards, 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Cassel than signed on with the Vikings to be Christian Ponder's backup but ended up appearing in nine games last season for the Vikings, throwing for 1,807 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. In games he started last year, the Vikings went 3-3, though interestingly, he was the quarterback to close the game in all five of the team's wins.

Not surprisingly, then, the Vikings turned to Bridgewater in the draft with the plan of starting Cassel initially. But now, it would appear Bridgewater has his moment to seize the first-team job once and for all. 

It was always a matter of when, not if, after all. But it's certainly a disappointing turn of events for Cassel.