It’s not a surprise, but Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that the Vikings have officially put Teddy Bridgewater on the regular season Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Players on the regular season PUP list cannot practice or play with the team during the first six weeks of the regular season. After those six weeks, there is a six-week window during which they can practice. If at any time through Weeks 7-12 they being practice, the team must activate that player within 21 days or release him.
If they cannot practice at the conclusion of Week 12, they remain on PUP for the rest of the season.
As an example, Bridgewater is forbidden from practicing for six weeks. In Week 7, if he’s cleared, he can practice. If he practices, the Vikings have three weeks to make a decision.
As an alternate example, Bridgewater — forbidden from practicing for the first six weeks of the season — may not be ready to practice until Week 12. If he practices in Week 12, the Vikings can activate him at any moment between Week 12 and Week 15.
If Bridgewater never practices between Week 1 and Week 12, he will be on PUP for the entire season.
This may be the beginning of an interesting labor battle between the NFLPA and the NFL. Bridgewater’s contract is said toll into next year (repeat) if he is “physically unable to perform football services” for the first six games of the season.
If he is medically capable of playing football but still on the PUP list, the NFL Management Council may still rule that Bridgewater’s contract tolls into next year based on the wording of the rule. If so, the NFLPA will likely challenge it. For more details, check out this story.
Regardless, the Vikings will still have a challenging set of decisions to make with Sam Bradford hitting free agency this year while a potential franchise tag could cost the Vikings $28.5 million.
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