Since the Minnesota Vikings announced Christian Ponder's rib injury, there have been questions regarding his status for the team's Week 4 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Minnesota made that status clear this morning, as the team announced Ponder will miss the game, resulting in veteran backup Matt Cassel getting the start in his place.
A CT scan revealed a fractured rib for Ponder on Monday, and the Vikings have decided against playing him this week, according to Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune. Scoggins adds that head coach Leslie Frazier felt it was too risky for the team to have Ponder play through his injury.
Frazier has said throughout the week that the only way Cassel would be under center Sunday is if Ponder was physically unable to play. There have been some calling for Ponder to be benched considering his lackluster performance thus far, but to the point the Vikings have resisted making such a move.
Moving forward, it will be interesting to see if Cassel has success if he is replaced when Ponder regains health. The Vikings were nearly a playoff team last year -- thanks in large part to Adrian Peterson and their defense -- and they would be considered much more of a threat if they could get any production out of the quarterback position. Fans were raving more about benching Ponder than starting Cassel, but it will be interesting to see what the former Kansas City Chiefs starter can do this week against the reeling Steelers.
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Christian Ponder has a fractured rib and is out. Frazier said Ponder had CT scan on Monday. Felt too risky to play him
— chipscoggins (@chipscoggins) September 27, 2013
A CT scan revealed a fractured rib for Ponder on Monday, and the Vikings have decided against playing him this week, according to Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune. Scoggins adds that head coach Leslie Frazier felt it was too risky for the team to have Ponder play through his injury.
Frazier has said throughout the week that the only way Cassel would be under center Sunday is if Ponder was physically unable to play. There have been some calling for Ponder to be benched considering his lackluster performance thus far, but to the point the Vikings have resisted making such a move.
Moving forward, it will be interesting to see if Cassel has success if he is replaced when Ponder regains health. The Vikings were nearly a playoff team last year -- thanks in large part to Adrian Peterson and their defense -- and they would be considered much more of a threat if they could get any production out of the quarterback position. Fans were raving more about benching Ponder than starting Cassel, but it will be interesting to see what the former Kansas City Chiefs starter can do this week against the reeling Steelers.
Follow @TheNFLInjuryRpt
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