Vikings likely to start Sam Bradford at QB over Shaun Hill

ByBen Goessling ESPN logo
Saturday, September 17, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS -- Sam Bradford is expected be the first quarterback to start for the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, a source told ESPN on Saturday.

Bradford took every first-team snap in practice this week, according to a league source, and he likely will replace Shaun Hill, who led the Vikings to a Week 1 win against the Tennessee Titans.

The Vikings open up their new stadium Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers.

Hill threw for 237 yards and didn't commit a turnover in the Vikings' 25-16 win against the Titans, but Minnesota gave up a 2017 first-round pick and a conditional 2018 fourth-rounder for Bradford on Sept. 3 after Teddy Bridgewater tore multiple ligaments in his left knee on a noncontact play on Aug. 30.

Bradford, who formerly played for the Eagles and Rams, has been going through a crash course in the Vikings' offense, spending early mornings with quarterbacks coach Scott Turner and staying late at the facility. He stayed on the practice field to get extra work with the first-team offense after practices this week.

"I thought Sam is a lot more comfortable with all the communication. I think he's getting more comfortable," offensive coordinator Norv Turner said Thursday. "The most important thing: He's getting comfortable with our players. Each guy is a little bit different, and I think you get reps with them, and you start getting more comfortable."

Coach Mike Zimmer would not announce his starting quarterback Friday, saying both Bradford and Hill are ready to play and that the team would reveal its decision Sunday.