EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- When he returns to the starting quarterback job for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Teddy Bridgewater won't have any concerns about the sprained left ankle that kept him out of the team's previous game.
Bridgewater said Wednesday he is "100 percent" after missing Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers, adding he won't need to wear anything to protect his ankle against the Detroit Lions. The game will be Bridgewater's second career start; he sprained his ankle at the end of his first start against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 28, ending a performance in which the rookie threw for 319 yards.
"I've been able to spend the majority of my time in the training room, and I credit those guys with just helping me and pushing me to get back to 100 percent," Bridgewater said.
The rookie wouldn't say whether he lobbied to play Thursday in Green Bay, adding that coach Mike Zimmer made the decision. But wide receiver Greg Jennings said Bridgewater had realized before the game he wouldn't be at his most effective while playing hurt.
"He just simply said, 'I want to be able to put my best out there.' He didn't feel like he was going to be able to do that," Jennings said. "He didn't want to put something out there that wasn't going to be able to get it done. You have to respect him. A lot of young guys would just go out there and try to do it just because; peer pressure, if you will. But toughness isn't shown just physically. It's mental toughness, too, and he definitely has that."
This week, though, Bridgewater said he's not concerned about his ability to run on his ankle, which could come in handy against a Lions team that has posted 12 sacks already this season.
"The training staff here has done a great job of just helping me get that strength back in my ankle," Bridgewater said. "On Sunday, I'll just be able to play at full speed."