MNVikings-generic

UNDATED (AP) — Veteran quarterback Shaun Hill and rookie Joel Stave have just become very important members of the Minnesota Vikings.

Starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is expected to miss at least the next season while recovering from a dislocated left knee and torn ACL suffered in a freak practice injury on Tuesday. The non-contact injury occurred when he tried to plant his left foot to throw a pass. The knee was placed in an air cast before he was taken to a nearby hospital.

The 36-year-old Hill has started just 34 games during his NFL career, eight since the end of the 2010 season. Stave just completed a four-year college career with Wisconsin, where he completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 7,635 yards, 48 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. Stave was signed as an undrafted free agent.

Also in Vikings camp, long-time center John Sullivan was among those released by the team Tuesday. Sullivan ranks fourth all-time among Vikings centers with 93 regular season starts.

Previously…

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has suffered a “significant” knee injury and the team is awaiting tests to determine the severity.

Bridgewater was taken to a hospital by ambulance on Tuesday afternoon shortly after going down in a non-contact drill. His left leg was immobilized in an air cast and players huddled around him in prayer after he crumpled to the turf.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer ended practice after Bridgewater went down. He says it doesn’t look good, but has not yet ruled out Bridgewater returning from the injury.

Losing Bridgewater would be a crushing loss for a team coming off of an NFC North division title that expected to contend for a Super Bowl appearance this season.

The Vikings have 36-year-old veteran Shaun Hill as Bridgewater’s primary backup.

Previously….

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went down with an injury in practice on Tuesday, causing the team to cut short its session after 25 minutes.

Bridgewater dropped back to pass during a drill when his right leg appeared to give out. Bridgewater immediately went down while concerned teammates and athletic trainers huddled around him.

Coach Mike Zimmer eventually called off practice, and the rest of the team walked off the field while Bridgewater was being attended to.

The nature of his injury was not immediately clear. But there is little behind Bridgewater on the depth chart, with veteran Shaun Hill the primary backup.

The Vikings host Los Angeles Rams in their final preseason game Thursday night.