MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings' fourth preseason game figured to be a sleepy exercise for the home team, which was planning to rest many of its starters against the Los Angeles Rams after three victories to start the exhibition season. Then quarterback Teddy Bridgewater tore his ACL on Tuesday, rending the Vikings' best-laid plans and forcing them to scramble for help under center.
Shaun Hill is now the Vikings' starting quarterback of the moment, and it's not expected he'll play much, if at all, in the team's preseason finale at U.S. Bank Stadium on Thursday night. If that plan holds, the Vikings will likely see plenty of Joel Stave and Brad Sorensen, the other two healthy quarterbacks on their roster.
The Vikings are still sorting through their options at quarterback with Bridgewater on injured reserve, and it seems likely they'll try to acquire another veteran before they open the season Sept. 11 at Tennessee. In the meantime, though, Stave and Sorensen will probably get one more chance to audition, either for the Vikings or for another team.
Here are several other Vikings players who have plenty to gain with a strong showing Thursday night.
Isaac Fruechte: The University of Minnesota product has put together a strong camp, and though he's only caught two passes during the preseason, he might be able to sew up a roster spot with a solid performance on Thursday night, following Adam Thielen's path from rural Minnesota high school through a state university and the team's practice squad to the active roster. Fruechte's work on special teams has helped put him in position, too, and in a fluid competition among wide receivers, Fruechte could set himself up to snatch a spot from a veteran.
Jayron Kearse: It's been an impressive camp for the hulking safety, whom the Vikings took in the seventh round out of Clemson, and he posted his second interception of the preseason Sunday. The Vikings have five safeties left on their roster, and Kearse would seem to be ahead of the injury-riddled Anthony Harris, but a strong showing Thursday night could help him secure his roster spot.
Zac Kerin: The Vikings' decision to cut John Sullivan opened up a spot behind Joe Berger at center, and Kerin has been battling Nick Easton for the job. Easton, whom the Vikings acquired from the San Francisco 49ers last October, would seem to have the edge while practicing with the second-team offense, but the Vikings have liked Kerin's work during two years on the practice squad. It'd help his case to finish with a strong performance Thursday.
Moritz Bohringer: During his first NFL camp, the German wide receiver has been more of a curiosity than a contributor, and the Vikings haven't used him enough to suggest they're considering putting him on their final roster. But the sixth-round pick could help himself by getting a few catches on film Thursday night; he's got enough raw ability that the Vikings might choose to keep him on their practice squad, or he could do something that makes him appealing to another team.
