22-year-old Teddy Bridgewater excited about some of Vikings' 'young guys'

The Vikings quarterback was asked what he was doing Sunday night when rookie fifth-round draft pick Stefon Diggs was zigging and zagging his way 62 yards down the field with a punt return.

August 11, 2015 at 2:38PM
Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater scrambled and completed a pass during the first quarter of the 2015 NFL Hall of Fame Game on Sunday. The Vikings beat the Steelers 14-3 in the first preseason game of the NFL season.
Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater scrambled and completed a pass during the first quarter of the 2015 NFL Hall of Fame Game on Sunday. The Vikings beat the Steelers 14-3 in the first preseason game of the NFL season. (Brian Wicker — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was asked what he was doing Sunday night when rookie fifth-round draft pick Stefon Diggs was zigging and zagging his way 62 yards down the field with a punt return.

"I actually was looking into the tablet going over the previous series that the second or third unit had," Bridgewater said after the 14-3 win over the Steelers in the Hall of Fame game. "I looked up and he was running down the sideline. I kind of threw my hands up and fell back on the bench."

The scene obviously left an impact on the, um, graybeard QB, who turns all of 23 on Nov. 10.

"I'm just excited for those young guys," said the second-year veteran of 12 NFL starts. "We know that in this league, it's going to take everyone, no matter what age, what year you're in."

Diggs also had two catches for 14 yards, while fellow rookie fifth-rounder MyCole Pruitt, a tight end, had a team-high four catches for a game-high 51 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown against busted coverage.

"It showed last year with Anthony [Barr] and myself when we were able to contribute to the Vikings as young guys," Bridgewater said. "So we know Stefon, MyCole, Trae [Waynes], [Eric] Kendricks, we're going to need all those guys.

"I'm excited to see those guys get out there and compete for the first time in live NFL action. The sky is the limit for those guys."

about the writer

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

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