It’s been a rough season for Christian Ponder. The Vikings’ quarterback started the season, but was replaced after a rib injury after week three. Although he managed to finish the team’s third game on September 22nd, he was declared inactive the next week because of his injury. Matt Cassel started in Ponder’s stead, getting the Vikings’ first win of the year against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  This was the start of a long and ultimately fruitless transition from quarterback to quarterback.

The Vikings had a bye during week five. During the bye, they picked up quarterback Josh Freeman, who was released by the Buccaneers. With three quarterbacks, poor play, and injuries, the Vikings have had an interesting mix of the three quarterbacks on the field.

Ponder was cleared to play week six, yet Cassel was given the start, likely because of his successful efforts in the previous game. Ponder’s injury provided a smooth transition between the players, but even the limited amount of stability the team had did not last. Cassel played poorly, so the Vikings decided to try Freeman for their week seven game against the New York Giants. Freeman did not play well either. As Freeman suffered a concussion in his start, the Vikings decided to return to Ponder.

Ponder resumed his starting role, remaining winless through November 3rd. He played well on November 7th against the Redskins, but was injured for the second time this year and could not complete the game. Ponder’s performance was admirable in the 34-27 victory. He threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game early. Ponder’s most recent injury was the first time a Vikings quarterback was knocked out of a game this year. Matt Cassel was chosen over Josh Freeman to finish the game and secure the win. Cassel appears to be the first backup right now. When talking about the Vikings’ quarterback situation, nothing is certain.

At the start of this season, there were some doubts about Ponder’s ability, but no question he was starter. It is possible that the competition for his spot motivated Ponder to become a better player. It is also possible that the crazy transition period has weakened an already weak offence, while preventing Ponder from gaining any experience. Just as he finally manages to play well, Ponder gets hurt. His injuries lead to questions about his durability. Whether or not Ponder’s current injury is serious, it is important to note that injuries may threaten his career as the Vikings’ quarterback. This time, nobody is looking for an excuse to play the backups.