Christian Ponder Injury: Quarterback Hurts Left Shoulder, Out For Game

Minnesota Vikings' quarterback Christian Ponder was playing, easily, his best game of 2013 this evening against the Washington Redskins on Thursday Night Football. Ponder had completed 17-of-21 passes for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He almost had a third touchdown, but what looked like a great play for the Vikings wound up ending Ponder's night.

The play occurred in the Minnesota red zone, as Ponder rolled out to his left and looked for an open receiver. Not seeing anyone, he tucked the ball under and took off for the end zone. As he got closer to the pylon, he took the ball and stuck it out towards the goal line in an attempt to score. He was hit by a Redskins player, and the ball came loose and went out of bounds just shy of the goal line.

Ponder got up in pain, and as the Vikings scored on a touchdown by Adrian Peterson on the next play, he was being looked at by the Vikings' training staff. He lightly tossed a couple of passes on the sideline, and then went back to the Minnesota locker room. The team announced that he had hurt his left (non-throwing) shoulder, and that Ponder was done for the evening.

Ponder has been replaced in the lineup by Matt Cassel.

There are about twelve minutes left in this one, and the Vikings are clinging to a 28-27 lead. We will have more on this story as it develops.