National Football League

Teddy Bridgewater injury: How long is ACL recovery time?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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We don’t know yet if Teddy Bridgewater has torn his ACL, but if he has, here’s how long the Minnesota Vikings can expect him to be out.

The three most dreaded letters of the alphabet for NFL players, coaches, and fans are ACL. On Tuesday Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a gnarly knee injury that drove teammates to prayer and displays of anger, according to ESPN reports.

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was decidedly pessimistic about Bridgewater’s prognosis at a news conference, stating simply about a possible return this season, “It doesn’t look good right now.” Also during the news conference, Zimmer revealed that Bridgewater was sedated and undergoing an MRI.

Only an MRI can confirm an ACL injury, but from early reports, it sounds like Bridgewater’s injury is a worst case scenario, especially since his team is calling the injury “significant” and suggesting that his season might be over.

If it is an ACL injury, what does this mean for the team?

Last year, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson missed the entire season with an ACL tear he suffered in the preseason. Good news: Nelson claims he expects to be back to ‘normal’ and head coach Mike McCarthy told Packers.com, “I think Jordy looks great.”

It is likely that Bridgewater will be ready to go next season, unless he has suffered complications, which are a possibility given the team’s grim tone and medical response. In any case, his recovery will be long. Ligaments keep bones connected to other bones. The ACL is the anterior cruciate ligament. A functional ACL stabilizes the knee and allows for back and forth movement. It is possible to live without an ACL, but that route would mean the end of Bridgewater’s career.

Athletes with torn ACLs undergo reconstructive surgery during which surgeons would replace his ligament with tendons from other areas of the body or a cadaver. Recovery from the surgery is generally swift, but it can take months for athletes to regain the stability and strength they enjoyed before the injury. This phase can take six months.

After athletes complete their rehabilitation, they still need to get into football shape. Sometimes, it can take up to twelve months for professional football players to return to the gridiron, even more if there are complications.