Vikings notes: Bridgewater misses another practice

Teddy Bridgewater has yet to fire a football since spraining his left ankle in the Vikings' 41-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The rookie quarterback says he feels much better, but time is running out for the Vikings to get him physically ready to start Thursday night in Green Bay.

Bridgewater missed a second practice Tuesday, leaving Christian Ponder and a pair of practice-squad quarterbacks to take his place. The rookie said he was making progress in his recovery but wouldn't put a percentage on his chances of playing.

"We still have a long time until Thursday," Bridgewater said. "So right now I am just going to continue to rehab and do a little bit of exercising [Tuesday] and see where I am over the next couple of days."

Coach Mike Zimmer believes Bridgewater, who passed for 317 yards in his first NFL start, might throw some passes during Wednesday's closed workout, which he described "as a jog-through."

But even Zimmer, who is typically pretty forthcoming when discussing injuries, has gotten in touch with his inner Bill Belichick — hoodie and all — when it comes to Bridgewater.

"If he can play, he will play," said Zimmer, suited up in a gray sweatsuit on a chilly fall Tuesday.

Asked if he would play Thursday night if it were up to him, Bridgewater steered clear of the question as if it were an unblocked defensive end.

After recording five sacks in the season opener, the Vikings have only three in their past three games and have dropped to 13th in the league in that category. Right end Everson Griffen was shut out the past three games and left end Brian Robison has yet to get a sack.

Zimmer said the reason for the lack of sacks is that certain Vikings defenders are freelancing and leaving their rush lanes, giving quarterbacks easier escape routes.

"We would have a lot more sacks just with our four-man rush if we would learn to rush as a team and not rush as individuals," Zimmer said.

The Vikings unveiled a new offensive wrinkle against the Falcons, asking Bridgewater to execute read-option plays on a few occasions. They have had them in the playbook since offensive coordinator Norv Turner arrived but did not use them when Matt Cassel started.

Turner said the Vikings were influenced by his son, quarterbacks coach Scott Turner, who coached with Rob Chudzinski and the Carolina Panthers when they utilized read-option runs to take advantage of quarterback Cam Newton's legs during his 2011 rookie season.

The scramble during which Bridgewater injured his ankle appeared to be a read-option run.

Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn returned to practice Tuesday, albeit on a limited basis, after a bout with food poisoning sent him to a hospital Monday morning.

"I'm feeling a whole lot better," he said. "I'm just trying to get foods in me to get ready for Thursday night."

Running back Jerick Mc-Kinnon (ankle) and cornerback Josh Robinson (hamstring) also were limited.

Linebacker Chad Greenway (rib) and tight end Kyle Rudolph (sports hernia) did not practice. Rudolph is out at least an additional five weeks. Greenway could sit out a second consecutive game, too.

• Bridgewater and McKinnon are finalists for the NFL Rookie of the Week award for Week 4.

• Outside linebackers Michael Mauti (foot) and Brandon Watts (knee), fullback Jerome Felton (knee) and receiver Rodney Smith (hamstring) were full participants at Tuesday's practice.