No opening Bell? Bell holding out as Steelers start camp

Teddy Bridgewater's return: 'I know it's going to happen'

Minutes after Teddy Bridgewater's left knee dislocated beneath him, the result of one bad step on a routine drop-back during practice nearly a year ago, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback was hustled into an ambulance. Head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman went with him. Bridgewater's promising NFL career was hanging in the balance. The fate of his leg was, too. "I'm pretty sure both of us were pretty nervous about that conversation," Bridgewater said in his first media address since the massive injury shook the organization 331 days ago. "I'm glad everyone reacted in a timely manner and we were able to save my leg, if that's what you want to call it." Thanks to the quick work by Sugarman and his staff and the paramedics on the scene at Vikings headquarters that afternoon , Bridgewater avoided nerve and arterial damage that could have forced an amputation. He still faced an arduous recovery from a torn ACL and other ligament damage that ended his third season just 12 days before it was to begin. "Just a play-action pass. I can't even remember, it was so long ago, but I just remember being out there laying on the ground," Bridgewater said, as the Vikings held their first full-team practice of training camp. "The biggest thing I remember was the guys supporting me. As I was out there on the ground, different guys came up, holding my hand, praying for me. It just says a lot about the character of the guys we have around here. I'm thankful to be a part of this team." The mystery now, after 11 months of rehabilitation that Bridgewater said has included no setbacks, is when he'll actually play in a game again. He's made so much progress, mostly logged through bread crumbs he's left on social media and incrementally affirmed by public remarks from general manager Rick Spielman, head coach Mike Zimmer and admiring teammates, that the "if" part of that question has essentially been eliminated. "We don't know when it's going to happen," Bridgewater said, "but for me, I know it's going to happen." Flashing his signature wide smile often during the interview session, Bridgewater credited his "amazing DNA" for the fortitude to work his way back. His mother, Rose Murphy, is a breast cancer survivor. He also spoke of renewed appreciation for simple skills such as walking and dressing and increased motivation for on-field success. "You have your days where you don't see the progress, but it's a long process. I'm in it for the long haul, and I want to be the best version of Teddy that I can be," he said. "It's a roller coaster that you go on, but for me, I've had so much support that I've had more great days than I've had bad days." Bridgewater is on the physically unable to perform list and will almost certainly start the season there. The Pittsburgh Steelers trickled into training camp on Thursday in pickup trucks and Porsches, Rolls Royces and Rubicons. And in the case of ageless linebacker James Harrison, a firetruck. Because of course he did. Yet the player perhaps most vital to Pittsburgh's hopes of tracking down Super Bowl champion and longtime nemesis New England by the end of January was nowhere to be found. While his teammates went through the customary opening paces — from check-in to a conditioning test — Le'Veon Bell never made it to St. Vincent College. The Pro Bowler has yet to sign the franchise tender that will pay him more than $12 million this season. Pittsburgh placed the franchise tag on Bell in the offseason, but was unable to find common ground for a long-term agreement. General manager Kevin Colbert tabled any talks of revisiting an extension until after the 2017 season. Bell, who averaged more than 150 yards of total offense last fall, tweeted “I guess I just gotta get better” when the July 17 deadline passed without a new deal in place. “We're a group that values this team building process and doing it in this setting,” Tomlin said. “There are consequences of him not being here.” Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden says he doesn't believe Jordan Reed's toe injury is serious and expects the tight end to be back on the field next week. The Redskins placed Reed on the physically unable to perform list to start training camp. Reed can be activated at any time. Gruden said Reed was experiencing soreness in his big toe that was causing him to overcompensate, including twisting his ankle. Reed missed four games last season with a concussion and a shoulder injury. Reed's injury history means the Redskins are being extra cautious with him.