NFL notebook.
Teddy Bridgewater said he “definitely” believes he’ll play for the Vikings this season, after returning to practice for the first time in almost 14 months.
Bridgewater spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since the beginning of training camp. He was cleared to rejoin the team Wednesday on the field where he dislocated his left knee and tore multiple ligaments in a noncontact drill less than two weeks before the start of the 2016 season.
The 24-year-old quarterback said his knee was feeling fine the day after his first practice, though he wasn’t taking any hits. Bridgewater will be brought along slowly, realizing the return to the field this week was only one of many steps toward playing in a game again.
“Just being able to get back on the football field Wednesday, that was a mini-milestone,” Bridgewater said. “Still got some work to do.”
Bridgewater exuded the same ear-to-ear grin he had through his 17-12 record as the Vikings starter before dislocating his left knee and tearing multiple ligaments during a routine practice drill.
In his first full practice since that day, he was allotted roughly one-fifth of the team reps in order to ease his surgically repaired left knee into action.
“Didn’t feel rusty at all,” Bridgewater said. “Just good to be out there with the guys — in the huddle, calling plays, looking those guys in the eyes and seeing those guys trust in me and I trust in those guys.”
Experiencing that again is a dream realized for Bridgewater, who said doctors “probably” told him along the way he may never play again.
“I’ve been thinking about that moment every day,” Bridgewater said, “because I use it as motivation. I use that to tell myself, ‘Hey I’m one step closer.’ Being out there, running out of that tunnel Wednesday just did something to me, in a good way.”
Bridgewater didn’t put a timetable on when he he’ll be able to play, using an analogy about needing to see if he can run the race first: “So if we’re not being smart and doing everything to get to the race, I’m not running the race.”
Fine for Mitchell: Safety Mike Mitchell was fined $48,620 on Thursday for his low hit on Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith during the Steelers’ 19-13 victory Sunday night.
Mitchell will appeal the fine.
Video replays of the play show Mitchell was pushed into Smith by teammate Anthony Chickillo. Mitchell defended himself after the game and again Monday.
“I’m not a dirty player, I’m not trying to take his legs out,” Mitchell said Monday. “It’s just one of those things you don’t want to see in a football game.”
Extra points: Jaguars rookie RB Leonard Fournette missed his second straight practice but said his sprained right ankle feels good and he “most definitely” will be healthy enough to play Sunday against the Colts . ... The Bills designated LB Tyrell Adams as being waived/ injured a day after he was claimed off waivers. The team re-signed LB Deon Lacey, who was released Wednesday.