Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel will start the team's opener. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Matt Cassel will start the Minnesota Vikings’ regular-season opener against St. Louis on Sept. 7.
FOX Sports reported Cassel was informed he is the starter Week 1 over Teddy Bridgewater, a first-round draft pick who pushed for playing time with his performance in training camp.
Cassel started six games last season when the Vikings also tried former first-rounder Josh Freeman in a memorably ineffective Monday Night Football start at New York. Cassel opted out of the second year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent but re-signed with the team in March, agreeing to a new two-year deal.
Bridgewater could see playing time in September, but first-year coach Mike Zimmer is not likely to pull the plug on Cassel barring performance-related issues or injuries.
Cassel averaged 9.4 yards per completion in the first three preseason games, including a long touchdown pass to Cordarrelle Patterson at Kansas City, exhibiting a strong grasp of Norv Turner’s offense. Cassel’s career high is 7.6 yards per completion during his rookie season in 2005 with the Patriots.
Cassel is 26 of 39 for 367 yards in the preseason.
Bridgewater impressed during practice and struggled in his preseason debut bounced back in a big way in the second preseason game, going 12 of 16 for 153 yards and leading a game-winning two-minute drill against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Vikings complete the preseason Thursday at Tennessee.
