Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel, who was placed on injured reserve this morning with a broken foot, says he is "devastated" that his season has ended so soon. He said he had high hopes for this Vikings team and for himself, but just three weeks into the season, he has been lost for the rest of it.

"It's disappointing professionally and personally," Cassel said. "You work so hard in the offseason to give yourself an opportunity to go out there and play, and then to have it happen this early in the season — especially with the belief that I have in this team, the thoughts of going on and having a lot of success this year — and for it to happen this early is super devastating to me. At the same time, now all your focus goes into your rehab and getting better and trying to get back on the field."

Cassel was injured while scrambling out of the pocket in the second quarter of Sunday's 20-9 loss to the Saints. He said his foot immediately went numb and soon realized as he limped to the sideline that he might have suffered a major injury. At first, he was diagnosed with a dislocated pinky toe. But further testing in the locker room showed that Cassel had fractured several bones in his left foot.

Cassel will be in Charlotte tomorrow to meet with Dr. Robert Anderson, the renowned specialist who will check out his foot. He said he isn't sure if he will need surgery and what rehab might entail, but the team doctors did give him a little good news when they told him he had no ligament damage and that he did not suffer a Lisfranc injury, which are much more difficult to come back from.

The veteran QB, who signed a two-year deal this spring, said he is focused on his recovery, not his future with the Vikings. But he thinks the huddle is in good hands with rookie Teddy Bridgewater.

"I think Teddy will do a tremendous job for us and hopefully I can help him in a mentoring position and be able to help guide him and bring him along," Cassel said.