ReutersThat elbow bursitis that limited him in warm-ups was apparently more than Christian Ponder could play through.
As a result, he’s inactive for tonight’s Wild Card game against the Packers, and Joe Webb will start at quarterback for the Vikings.
That leaves McLeod Bethel-Thompson as the Vikings backup, and will skew the play-calling even more toward Adrian Peterson than it already was.
UPDATE 6:38 p.m. ET: The rest of the Vikings inactives are wide receiver Stephen Burton, cornerback Brandon Burton, linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, offensive lineman Troy Kropog and defensive ends George Johnson and D’Aundre Reed.
The Packers inactives are wide receivers Donald Driver and Jarrett Boykin, cornerback Davon House, running back James Starks, outside linebacker Frank Zombo, defensive tackle Jordan Miller and defensive end Jerel Worthy.
Channel Finder
So what’s the over/under on the number of times the Vikes run the Option?
Joe can’t possibly be any WORSE than Ponder. Don’t let his last game make up for an entire season of suck. Plus we got MLBT backing him up.
MVP will show up big!
This will be fun to watch. Vikings win.
That’s terra-bull. Bring back Joe Kapp.
My condolences to Viking fans, that really blows
Is Favre flying up….just in case???
Looks like he blew his elbow out making a few long passes to Wright the last two weeks…
This is going to be interesting. I don’t even know if Webb has been taking snaps all year in practice with the 1st team.
So the focus of the offense shifts to Peterson?
Disagree about skewing play calling even more towards Adrian. I think there will be more designed QB runs called.
As a Vikings fan for the last 31 years, to say that I’m conflicted with this news would be an understatement. Skol?
Or, will it be the exact same game plan of heavy AP plus a short passing game? Only Joe Webb is a super fast scrambling machine. Ya. I think so.
So now they are essentially playing with 2 RB’s in Webb and Peterson and no Qb?
doesn’t matter who’s qb. just handed off to A.P
I hope this isn’t a rude awakening to all (boneheaded) Vikings fans who have been calling for Joe Webb since the season started.
I like Webb a lot; I am worried about third and long situations.
Isn’t it bad enough the packers get all the breaks with the refs? Now they get this lucky break as well ??
Perfect!
Green Bays Def will Get toasted by Webb and Peterson
Too bad for the kid….are the Packers prepared for a little run option football? The pack could get upset here… Vikings run the ball so much Rodgers doesn’t see the field…
Expecting a tweet very soon from Maurice Jones-Drew and Deon Sanders about what a soft player and a quitter Christian Ponder is for not suiting up and able to give it a go in a playoff game. (i.e. see Jay Cutler).
Who the hell is McLeod Bethel-Thompson? He doesn’t even have a picture on the Vikings website.
This sucks. Not a MIN or GB fan but was looking forward to a good game. Ponder isn’t great but he is capable of making some plays. Webb? Not so much.
I have a feeling Vikings fans are going to blame his new wife Samantha Steele…
This may be a game we look back on and say “Do you remember when Minnesota beat Green Bay with a QB who didn’t take a snap all season” or a game we look back on and forget. Similar to the 2000 NFC Championship vs the Giants.
This isn’t necessarily a good thing for Green Bay. Minnesota is going to pull out the stops and Green Bay doesn’t know what to expect. I’d rather have Ponder.
If the Packers lose to Joe Webb, they should disband the franchise. I’m not saying they won’t lose, I’m just saying that no Packer fan should ever show his face in public again.
No horse in the race but with all the cards stacked against minn, I smell a huge upset coming. Big key will be minn jumping out to a quick lead. That here we go again feeling will set in quick for gb
And the Webb / Peterson combo dominates the Packers defense.
Bursitis? Seems kind of Cutler-esque.
He is going to miss the biggest game of his career, and though I have never dealt with it.
Why do they show him warming up with passes, when he is just going to turn around and hand it of 30-40 times.
First QB to start a playoff game after not attempting a pass in the regular season.
When you’re a Viking 4life since 1968, you expect something like this, with this team there’s ALWAYS something…………………
Wont change anything. They will only throw it on 3rd and long. But everyone know’s who is getting the ball for the Vikings.
As i have more faith in Ponder, I think for tonights matchup on a cold night, a running qb may actually be better then a thrower
It seems like roughly 50% of Vikings fans prefer Joe Webb anyways. If SOMEHOW they can win tonight, things are going to get real interesting going forward.
This could be good, the Packers haven’t prepared for Webb.
Wrecked ‘em? Damn near killed em’!
It’s only a playoff game. No need to push through injury.
To be honest, Webb scares me as much or more than Ponder did.
This can’t be any worse than having Ponder at qb, can it?
Damn
Only hope is that the athleticism of Webb surprise catches Packers off guard.
Green Bay by 21.
Here’s your chance Webb! Do this!
I think this gives the Vikings a better chance at winning. He throws just as good as Ponder, which isn’t saying much, but his mobility is dangerous and could work out in the frozen tundra.
Well… This will be interesting.
WILDCAT BABY, for 60 minutes.
Haha. Boykin. Haha.
Vikings bringing their version of RG III to the Lamb,,,,,they knew it all along! Go Joe!
Blowout. Go Pack Go!
Vikings fans are still Pondering why the team wasted a draft pick on this jabroni.
Oh come on Pounder! It’s the playoffs FFS.
Rub some dirt on it and man up!
wow……..just wow
This is a huge opportunity for Webb. Hopefully he can take advantage of it. He is an amazing athlete.
What a chance for Webb to show the world what he’s got. He shined in a big spot in Philly in 2010.
They just increased their chances of beating the pack exponentially
Joe Webb! time to show out
I wish driver was playing…prob his final game in Green Bay…should have kept green out…Grant/Harris is a good enough combo
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Packers 55
Queens 7
If the Vikes manage to win this game, then Ponder is gonna get Alex Smith’ed next season.
Might be the only fan base who loves their starting QB missing a playoff game. The Joe Webb show begins!
I’m a Packers fan and this worries me.
That’s too bad because I think Webb is more dangerous than Ponder. Should still be a good game.
Webb can run better than Ponder but throws worse. 3rd and Long passing downs require an accurate arm. Thats where this game will be decided and it seems like that losing Ponder hurts Minnesota.
Joe Webb scares me more than Christian Ponder. I hope he doesn’t beat the Packers with his feet.
Joe Webb is the truth and he’s going to do the money dance on Raji’s face all night
Strangely I see Webb doing well tonight.
Don’t
Don’t matter, the Pack is ready!
Anyone else think the Seahawks could get the Vikings first round pick for Flynn?
They’re management thought Ponder was a first round pick…
I’ll bet they could.
wow
too bad i would have liked to see the rematch from last week.
Go Pack Go
Packers should be prepared for Vikes to run the ball a lot and play action passes.I think they will try to wear Packers defense down.Packers need to have at least same time of possesion and turnovers will be very important.REALLY hope my Pack can go deep in to playoffs. Every game they win now will be another Packers game I get to see in my life.
I think the Vikings’ chances of winning just increased a little bit.
Packer fan here but if I were a Viking fan I’d be pretty ticked at Ponder. This is the fricking playoffs for crying out loud! Get a shot and suit up dude. Brett Favre for all his faults would be able to teach you about this about what it means to play in pain and how to tough things out. I also think there is more to this story we are being told. This came out of nowhere
lol can this game get any better!
Soft. Take the injection and be a man!!
Green Bay would be best advised not to take Webb lightly. I remember a backup QB in the NFC Championship game in Chicago a few years ago that played a whale of a game. I doubt if anyone had ever heard of Caleb Hanie before that night. Webb will be coming to play and the Packers better respect that. On a side note, is it possible for the Vikings to lean even harder on AP?
Oh well, it’ll be funny if somehow they still beat GB.
GB can’t get passed SF or ATL this season. Their Oline isn’t that good and their secondary is too weak.
GB 10 SF 34 – Next Week.
For those of you calling Ponder soft, why don’t you try to throw a football with elbow bursitis. He wouldn’t be able to throw it the way he needs to so it would hurt the team to play. Just like Favre sometimes hurt the team by playing just to keep his stupd streak alive.
@Kelly’s Chronicles – it didn’t come from out of nowhere. He got hurt last week and has been questionable all week…
Raider23-I don’t think Rodgers only puts up 10 in nice weather…he is also gold in domes
If Joe Webb wins this playoff game the Vikings should auction him off for a conditional 3rd round pick.
I didn’t expect the Vikes to beat the Texans, Rams, or Packers last week. Joe’s got alot of poise, stong arm, and can really run. I don’t think the Vikes will win, but…………….SKOL VIKINGS!!!!
Joe Webb is a freak athlete. With 28 and 14 we got two big strike runners…plus a big arm
LOL@ people thning Webb is the better option. Dont you folks think that Frazier would have already had Webb starting if he were better than Ponder? Webb is not going to run some dynamic run-option oriented offensive scheme. Know why? Because Minnesota isnt set up for that kind of thing, and probably has no plays or players for that type of game. I’d rather see Ponder, not because he is bad, but because he would be the Vikings best option and best chance to give GB a run for their money tonight. If Webb is rusty, this game will be a huge blow-out. And, he is probably so rusty he squeaks.
Wow rub. some cream on it and get in the game! its the damn playoffs
So Vikings fans are expecting Webb to greatly enhance that unstoppable offense, huh? When did Webb suddenly become RGIII? Was it during his time backing up superstar Ponder?
If Webb was the better option, then why hasnt he started more than 2 games in the last 3 seasons? Vikings fans are already drunk if they think this benefits their team. Webb cant throw the ball!! Go ahead and run the option 100 times. If a team could be successful only doing that play, it would have been done before.
Love all you tough guys commenting a blog calling Ponder soft. As if you know how hurt he is, and how well he can throw with the injury, and you could better. There’s a reason you are on a couch and Ponders is in the NFL!
Am I the only Packer fan who sees this as a horrible turn of events? Ponder singlehandedly lost the first meeting for the Vikes as well as numerous other games this season. Webb is a better passer and a better runner than Ponder. Ponder shouldn’t even be in the NFL. I’m pumped to watch the Pack win but its gonna be a close one!
I wanted Webb to start all season until tonight. You just can’t feel comfortable with a guy who hasn’t thrown a pass all season. You never know what will happen as I remember numerous people on this site vehemently claiming AP’s career was over. I think he rebounded decently. Not expecting much but you never know.
I hammer Peterson to open up the passing game. Minnesota is going to have to throw to win this game. They can’t play a one denominational game or they are toast.
2 things the Packers have trouble with are teams with good RB’s and running QB’s and the deep ball. What does Joe Webb do well, run and throw deep. Vikes are going to win. Rodgers is awesome by the way and any fan that doesn’t acknowledge that doesn’t know football.
Could be very interesting. Obviously the Packers haven’t prepared for Webb. Webb is a lot more mobile.
This is actually looking like it’ll be good. Webb ran a 4.43 at the combine.
webb is a solid back up quarterback but ponder should play through the injury because this is a very big game
They’ll blow it as usual.
Packers-vikes rivalry is no bigger than Packers-Detroit.
Packers-Bears is by far and away the biggest rivalry in the division and the nfl.
Lets trade Carson to the Vikes for a couple 2nd rounders. I mean, these Vikes qb’s are not even in Dilfers league. Pretty sad.
Webb is no quarterback. Finally – a chance to shut up these supposed Viking fans who have been scraming for him to play all season. Maybe even the coaches will see that he is no QB and they can move on to better things in 2013.
So viking fans have been clamoring all season to have Webb start over Ponder because they supposedly think Webb is this Tebow-like god at QB?!?!
And I thought The Packer fanbase was the idiot fanbase of the NFL. Now that new title belongs to the Viking fanbase.
After watching the first half, how is this clown an NFL QB? It’s a shame that he’s getting a paycheck.
I guess we know why they’ve started Ponder all year.
How was that not OF holding on the Griffen sack
Funny, Even Collingsworth mentions that the Packers have had so many first downs this season due to penalties. Funny right?
April 2005:
And with the 7th pick in the draft, the Minnesota Vikings select Troy Williamson, wide receiver, South Carolina.
With the 24th pick, the Green Bay Packers select Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, Cal.
Just think what you could have had vikings fans!
Huge Vikings fan here. Can we all put to rest the idea that that Webb is a quarterback!!!
So glad all the Ponder haters got what they wanted tonight! Get it through your head, Webb was drafted to be a WR! The experiment is over.
This is why I didn’t want the Vikings to make the playoffs. I knew they’d get embarrassed. Should have gone for the rushing record. Much more memorable than getting trounced by the packers in the playoffs.
Why is Webb not a receiver yet? Can they stop wasting his time at quarterback and put him somewhere he could contribute? WR?
Also, why does pft out stories way the hell out of order?
Steelers fan here. Charlie Batch should be retained by the Steeelrs seeing how terrible the state of backup QBing is in the NFL today.
Joe Webb is bad at football
The Vikings are a terrible team with a great running back. They should release him so he has a fighting chance at winning a super bowl.
We can now lay to rest all the trash talk, Clay Mathews and the Packers did what they said they were gonna do, they held the otherwise unstoppable Adrian Peterson to just 99 yards and dominated the game from the start…
Ponder pulled a Cutler.
They are who we thought they were!
SKOAL
If I were a Vikings fan, I’d be so pissed right now. If you have arms, you play in that game. Period. Shoot the horse up with pain killers and get him on the track. Favre played 15 years straight with worse than a sore elbow. I’m embarrassed for him. This proves yet again that God hates the Vikings.