The process wasn't as dramatic as last year's quarterback situation. But rookie Kyle Sloter ramped up his study of the Vikings playbook once he learned the team might promote him less than two weeks after he was signed to the practice squad.
Sloter, 23, learned around his sixth practice of starter Sam Bradford's questionable status for Sunday's game in Pittsburgh because of a strained left knee. Bradford ultimately sat out the 26-9 loss, making Sloter the backup quarterback for his first NFL game. He could stay there if Bradford misses more time.
"It's been a little bit of a whirlwind," Sloter said. "This is my 15th day here. Just trying to learn the offense as much as I can and, in case something happens, I'm trying to be ready."
At the start of his third week with the Vikings, Sloter estimates he could run about "70 to 80 percent" of the playbook. The undrafted Northern Colorado product impressed a few teams with his strong preseason in Denver, where he completed 31 of 43 passes for 413 yards and three touchdowns. The Vikings outbid the Broncos and Redskins to get Sloter's arm on the practice squad after the Broncos waived him.
"He's behind, but he's an athletic kid," coach Mike Zimmer said. "Throws the ball good, strong arm. But he's catching up."
Sloter said he's been living "a dream" as the former college receiver once fought to prove he could simply play quarterback. He said friends and family were quick to fill his phone with calls and text messages after Sloter's promotion to the 53-man roster this weekend.
However, his chances of staying on the active roster could be tied to the health of Bradford, who a year earlier was traded to Minnesota and started against the Packers less than two weeks into his tenure as the Vikings quarterback. The outlook on Bradford's knee is considered day-to-day, Zimmer says.
"We thought [Bradford] might recover a little bit faster, because it's not something serious," Sloter said. "One way or another, he's going to be ready to go again at some point."
