Report: Ponder Will Start At QB Sunday For Vikings
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) – Donovan McNabb's stint at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings appears to have lasted just six games.
Sources are reporting that Vikings coach Leslie Frazier informed McNabb that Christian Ponder will be the starting quarterback on Sunday when the Vikings face the Green Bay Packers. Ponder was the team's first-round draft choice and No. 12 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Ponder played the last two series in the Vikings 39-10 loss to the Chicago Bears Sunday night. While he didn't lead the team to an offensive score, Ponder looked sharp and accurate in the performance Sunday night.
McNabb went 1-5 as a starter for the Vikings, and ironically probably played his best game as a Viking in Sunday night's loss. He went 19-of-24 passing for 177 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He did take a safety early in the game and fell victim to a couple of receivers dropping passes. In the Vikings' lone win, Adrian Peterson ran for three touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals. McNabb was just 10-of-21 passing for 177 yards.
In his two series, Ponder was 9-of-17 passing for 99 yards. He had two passes of 20 yards or more.
The Vikings were off Tuesday and had no official comment on the switch. The announcement is expected to come at the team's weekly news conference on Wednesday. Tuesday is also the NFL trading deadline, and it's unlikely that McNabb would be dealt to another team. If he doesn't want to sit on the sidelines the rest of the season, the Vikings could release him.
