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          Teddy Bridgewater enjoys being 'second pair of eyes' for Case Keenum

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          Will Keenum outdo the Rams' offense? (0:46)

          Damien Woody and Herm Edwards are split on the outcome of the Rams-Vikings matchup Sunday, with Woody putting his vote behind Case Keenum and Edwards picking the Rams' top-rated offense. (0:46)

          • Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterNov 17, 2017, 02:21 PM
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              Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.

          EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Teddy Bridgewater’s patience is being tested.

          That’s not a bad thing, not the way he sees it.

          Bridgewater talked about “trusting the process” while remaining in the wings as Case Keenum prepares to start for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. It will be the second straight game since he was activated in which Bridgewater will serve as a backup.

          “It’s not about me. It’s about us,” Bridgewater said. “We’re sitting in a good position right now, pushing for the playoffs. Hopefully home-field advantage or something like that. We can’t take the focus away from that.”

          Though he’s eager to get back on the field and has discussed the importance of playing this year, Bridgewater sees the benefit in slowly making his way back versus being thrown right into the mix.

          “The good thing about taking it slow is I get to sharpen my game even more on the practice field, on the sideline,” he said. “During games, I get to take those mental reps so that if Case doesn’t see something, he can come to the sideline and I can be that second pair of eyes for him.”

          Bridgewater roamed up and down the sideline in Washington, often standing 10-15 yards behind the Redskins defense to evaluate what Keenum was seeing on specific plays. It gave Keenum the confidence to know that if he missed something, he could turn to his backup for advice.

          “It’s great to have him with feedback and know what’s going on,” Keenum said after the Vikings' 38-30 win. “Being able to talk about certain things, whether it’s protections, routes or coverages. He does a great job and he’s a great team player.”

          Those mental reps are what keep Bridgewater ready, should he need to relieve Keenum in a game. Bridgewater's road back from a dislocated knee and a torn ACL last summer has helped him with personal growth on and away from the field, his fortitude and becoming a better teammate. What he’s doing for Keenum in games is something he’d want reciprocated if he were playing.

          “Whoever is in there, our goal is to push each other,” Bridgewater said. “Case is in there; I’m going to do everything I can to push him, whether it’s being a second pair of eyes for him on the sideline or in the film room, even in the practice field. That’s what I want to do because at the end of the day, it’s about making this team better. If we’re having solid quarterback play from that position, then obviously the team’s doing something well.”