The Minnesota Vikings announced that they are placing starting quarterback Matt Cassel on season-ending Injured Reserve and they will be moving forward with first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater.

“This is where I always wanted to be,” Bridgewater said about starting at quarterback. “Unfortunately, the way it happened, wasn’t the way that I expected it to. But I was able to relax. The guys put their trust in me and they told me nothing changes. The game plan isn’t going to change and we just continue to play football.”

In Sunday’s 20-9 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Bridgewater was solid but unspectacular, completing 12 of 20 throws for 150 yards with no touchdowns or turnovers.

There is some belief that Bridgewater will lead to a more vertical passing game as Minnesota has last season’s first-round pick Cordarrelle Patterson, who can be a game breaker.

“I think he extended plays with his feet, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said following the game. “I was impressed with his composure. He made some great throws. He made a nice throw to Cordarrelle (Patterson) on the sideline, and he made a great throw to Jennings to get us into field position there. He checked the ball to (Matt) Asiata one time. So he did some real good things, extended some plays. He had a couple nice scrambles. I think his mobility will maybe keep some defenses honest a little bit.”

The Vikings are obviously doing the right thing by playing the future of their franchise now, and despite getting an opening day victory with Cassel one can assert that Minnesota wasted time by not playing their rookie. Minnesota will be better off in the future for Teddy Bridgewater playing now.