NFL Player News

The Vikings placed Bradford (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.

Though the arthroscopic procedure Bradford required on his left knee Tuesday wasn't expected to sideline him for more than a handful of weeks, the Vikings weren't comfortable playing the waiting game and opted to replace him on the 53-man roster with former starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who is back to full health after suffering a devastating knee injury in training camp last year. Case Keenum has performed admirably while Bradford has missed all but two games this season due to chronic knee pain and will remain the starter for Sunday's game against the Redskins, but Bridgewater is now next in line should Keenum falter or succumb to an injury of his own. Bradford is set to become a free agent this offseason and seems unlikely to be retained by the Vikings if the team is satisfied with Bridgewater's health heading into 2018.

The Vikings activated Bridgewater (knee) from the Physically Unable to Perform list Wednesday.

Bridgewater's lengthy recovery from a severe non-contact injury to his left knee suffered in training camp last August has finally reached its conclusion, with the Vikings bringing him back to the active roster after he endured no setbacks during practice the last three weeks. The Vikings likely weren't counting on Bridgewater to contribute this season, but with Sam Bradford (knee) landing on injured reserve in a corresponding move following an arthroscopic procedure Tuesday, the 2014 first-round pick is now next in line at quarterback behind incumbent starter Case Keenum. While Keenum isn't the Vikings' long-term answer behind center, he's been serviceable while Bradford has missed all but two games this season, so it may take an injury to Keenum or decline in performance before Bridgewater sees snaps in 2017.

The Vikings are expected to place Bradford (knee) on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Bradford underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday.

Minnesota will likely make the transaction official later Wednesday, when fellow quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (knee) is slated to get activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list in a corresponding move. Bradford's knee scope is only expected to keep him sidelined for a few weeks, but the Vikings determined the impending return of Bridgewater and the solid play of fill-in starter Case Keenum left their quarterback situation in good enough hands to justify shutting down the 2010 No. 1 overall pick. Bradford is hopeful that the procedure will clear up the chronic knee pain that had been plaguing him since Week 1, but given the litany of health issues he's endured throughout his career, the veteran could be hard pressed to earn significant guaranteed money during the offseason, when he's set to become a free agent.

Watson (knee) underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair his right ACL, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Doctors detected no additional ligament damage beyond the ACL tear while performing the procedure, so Watson's recovery timetable is expected to remain at 8-to-9 months. The rookie quarterback was enjoying a star-making campaign prior to suffering the injury in practice last week, but the Texans fully expect Watson to return to form by the start of the 2018 season. The knee surgery was the second of Watson's career; he previously required a procedure during his freshman year of college to repair a torn left ACL.

Bradford had surgery on his left knee Tuesday performed by Dr. James Andrews, who "cleaned up" the knee in hopes of easing pain and discomfort, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports.

Even if this was a minor procedure, it doesn't sound like Bradford is coming back anytime soon, and the Vikings may decide to put him on injured reserve. With Case Keenum thriving in Bradford's stead as the Vikings' starting quarterback and Teddy Bridgewater (knee) set to return from the Physically Unable to Perform list this week to provide additional insurance at the position, Minnesota may not have much incentive to waste a roster spot on Bradford while his return timeline remains murky.

The Texans released McGloin on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

McGloin's prior relationship with head coach Bill O'Brien, who previously coached the quarterback at Penn State, wasn't enough to keep the 27-year-old around for more than a week. The Texans signed veteran quarterback Josh Johnson to take McGloin's spot on the roster and act as the team's third-string option at the position.

Johnson agreed to terms Tuesday on a contract with the Texans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Johnson will replace the recently signed Matt McGloin as the Texans' third quarterback, with the potential to eventually challenge the uninspiring duo of Tom Savage and T.J. Yates for the starting or top backup roles, respectively. Though the 31-year-old Johnson has just five NFL starts on his resume, he's enjoyed a long career as a backup in the league thanks in large part to his live arm and mobility. Johnson's last regular-season NFL snap came in 2013 as a member of the Bengals.

Broncos head coach Vance Joseph named Brock Osweiler the team's starting quaterback for the Week 10 game with the Patriots while noting that Lynch isn't ready to contribute yet, Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post reports. "Physically he's been hurt," Joseph said Monday, in clarifying why Lynch wasn't ready to play. "He played his last football game in Week 3 of the preseason and he threw for four days prior to our last game. That's the physical part. The mental part, I was speaking more to that he hasn't played football. He hasn't been on the football field. He's missed so much time, so to put him in an NFL game Week 10 wouldn't be fair to our football team or fair to Paxton."

Osweiler replaced the struggling Trevor Siemian as the team's starter in the blowout loss in Week 9 to the Eagles and provided little evidence that he would add stability at quarterback, completing 19 of 38 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and a fumble. Though the Broncos will give Osweiler another chance to redeem himself, it seems inevitable that Lynch will get a look as the starter once Joseph determines the 2016 first-round pick is ready to go from a physical standpoint following the lengthy absence due to a sprained right shoulder.

Watson will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair his torn right ACL, Mike Garofolo of NFL Network reports.

The Texans moved Watson to injured reserve shortly after he suffered the injury on a non-contact play during practice Nov. 2, spelling an end to what had been an outstanding rookie campaign. Watson is expected to require 8-to-9 months to recover from the procedure, which could result in him being limited when training camp opens next summer. Assuming Watson endures no significant setbacks, however, he should be on track to open the 2018 campaign as the Texans' starting quarterback.

Bridgewater (knee) will be activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list Wednesday, but won't start the Vikings' Week 10 game against the Rams, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports.

As expected, the Vikings will activate Bridgewater with his 21-day window to return from the PUP list set to expire this week, and with the 24-year-old's surgically repaired left knee apparently responding well to practices, he should displace Kyle Sloter as the top backup to Case Keenum on Sunday. Mortensen relays that the Vikings believe Bridgewater, who missed the entire 2016 season while recovering from the dislocated knee, will be ready to start relatively soon, but it's unlikely that Keenum will be moved to the bench unless his performance dramatically dips following his strong half of the season. Sam Bradford had previously opened the season as the Vikings' starting quarterback, but he's been sidelined since aggravating a knee injury in Week 5 and may be a more likely candidate to head to injured reserve at this point than challenge either Keenum or Bridgewater for the top role.