It is an obvious move. As the Minnesota Vikings continue their quarterback carousel, Josh Freeman will likely start in the next few weeks. As both Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel struggle on the season, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback will get his chance to take over at some point this year.
FOX Sports NFL Insider Jay Glazer reports the quarterback will get his shot with the Vikings. It is the move everyone saw coming after the team opted to sign Freeman after his release from the Buccaneers. At the time, Ponder was out with a rib injury and Cassel was working as the starter. Even when Ponder was deemed healthy for play, Cassel got the start, but failed to get the win.
Neither quarterback appear to be the long-term answer for the Vikings. In Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers, Cassel tossed two interceptions. He went 32 for 44 for 241 yards and one touchdown. After that performance, Freeman is next in line to get an opportunity.
"The guys in that locker room won't throw in the towel. We've just got to find some momentum," Cassel said, via ESPN.com.
That momentum will likely come as another change at quarterback. Glazer believes this move will happen sooner rather than later. Freeman is working off a limited contract. Ponder's time with Minnesota appears to be coming to a close no matter how much Leslie Frazier and the front office attempt to deny it. Cassel is nothing more than a backup. If Freeman can string some success together, he could get re-signed in the offseason.
Ponder is still trying to make sense of all this. Just two years after the Vikings drafted him 12th overall, his time with the franchise is slowly ending in disappointing fashion. The quarterback has admitted he is frustrated with the way things are being handled by the coaches and the front office.
"Some of the dynamics of this organization have changed obviously with brining in Josh [Freeman]," Ponder said, via 1500ESPN.com. "I would be lying if I didn't say it was a little bit disappointing and frustrating."
Frazier has said there is not an open quarterback competition taking place on the Vikings right now, but he is concerned about putting the best set of players on the field. The head coach says he is more so evaluating all positions rather than having players tryout for their spots.
