Vikings rookie Teddy Bridgewater takes over as Matt Cassel goes on IR

Teddy Bridgewater was picked by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the NFL draft to be their quarterback of the future.

Well, the future is now.

The Vikings put starter Matt Cassel on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday, three days after the veteran quarterback broke some bones in his left foot playing against New Orleans.

That means the 1-2 Vikings are now in the hands of Bridgewater, who completed 12 of 20 passes for 150 yards and led two scoring drives that ended with field goals while playing nearly three quarters against the Saints after Cassel’s injury.

Minnesota also is without star running back Adrian Peterson, who is out indefinitely while facing a child abuse charge, as well as injured right guard Brandon Fusco, recently released receiver Jerome Simpson and injured tight end Kyle Rudolph.

But now they have Bridgewater, who completed 68.4% of his passes for 9,817 yards with 72 touchdowns and 24 interceptions during his three years at Louisville. And apparently everything will be just fine.

“We should win every single game we play with him at quarterback,” center John Sullivan said earlier this week of the rookie QB.

Hmmm, 14-2? I’m guessing the depleted Vikings will be OK with that.

Twitter: @chewkiii