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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was asked Tuesday if he thinks recent criticism has gotten to his young quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. "You'd have to talk to him about those kinds of things," Zimmer said. "He and I have talked a good amount about a lot of it, but I would say he's human.
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"I'm sure he hears things. Just like I hear things. Nobody likes hearing people say how bad you are or anything like that. But I don't know that it affects him. I think we're all human."
Specifically, a day after Seattle crushed the Vikings 38-7 and held their offense to a season-low 125 yards, Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin delivered a verbal kick to Bridgewater.
Irvin said Bridgewater "was so scared" in the loss. Well, it turns out the two are friends. Some friend.
"Bruce (Irvin) and I are close; we're very close," Bridgewater said Tuesday. "We talked before the game. Talked about our friend (Rams receiver) Stedman Bailey and things like that. We also traded jerseys after the game.
"I think Bruce was just excited to get the up on us. And I was able to defeat Bruce as a freshman in college (Louisville over West Virginia). So there's a little history behind that. But those guys were talking all game. Those guys are a pretty confident group. But to hear that, hey, that's typical Bruce."
Are they still close?
"It is a little embarrassing to hear that," Bridgewater said. "Bruce is still a good player and a great guy off the field also."
Asked if the dig would motivate him, Bridgewater said, "Definitely, definitely. I'm going to make sure that I remember those words. But I can't lock in and pay too much attention to that. We have a game here in two days. I have to shift my focus to that."
10-2 Cardinals on the road on a short week.
--Linebacker Anthony Barr (groin) did not practice again Tuesday and is not expected to play on Thursday. When the team is in its base defense, Jason Trusnik, who was signed off the street during the season, will step in. In the nickel, veteran Chad Greenway will stay on the field alongside rookie middle linebacker Eric Kendricks.
--Free safety Harrison Smith (hamstring/knee) didn't practice again Tuesday and is not expected to play on Thursday. Smith missed the Atlanta game two weeks ago because of the knee injury and left the Seattle game during the second series because of the hamstring injury. If he can't play, the Vikings might turn to Robert Blanton, who is battling injury, Shaun Prater, the former Viking who was re-signed on Tuesday, or Anthony Harris, the undrafted rookie who was promoted from the practice squad Tuesday.
--Safety Antone Exum was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. Exum made the first two starts of his career the past two weeks. He started at free safety for Harrison Smith against Atlanta and then at strong safety for Andrew Sendejo against Seattle. Exum broke a rib and suffered a strained AC shoulder joint against Seattle.
--Strong safety Andrew Sendejo (knee) missed the Seattle game, but was limited in Tuesday's practice. He could play on Thursday. The Vikings will be pushing for him to play because it's unlikely that FS Harrison Smith will be able to play.
--Nose tackle Linval Joseph (foot) is believed to have broken his right big toe. He missed the Seattle game and hasn't practiced in two weeks. He's expected to miss Thursday's game. Three-technique tackle Sharrif Floyd moved over and made his first start at nose tackle in the Seattle game. Tom Johnson, a starting-quality backup, stepped in at three-technique.
