As the Browns prepare to play their first preseason game with coach Mike Pettine publicly acknowledging that he hopes to name a starting quarterback before the third one, the Vikings have no similar timetable.
More accurately, there’s no timetable at all -- at least not one that is known outside the coaching staff.
Tight end Kyle Rudolph recently told PFT Live that the players would like to know the identity of the starter as soon as possible, so that tehy can begin working with him more closely. But the players and everyone else will have to continue to be patient as the Vikings study what went right and what went wrong for Matt Cassel and Teddy Bridgewater in the preseason opener.
Cassel has emerged from that game with the apparent edge, but it’s possible that Cassel will need to establish a clear edge before he’ll get the starting job.
The safest guess would be that the Week One starter will be named not long after the third preseason game. If it’s Cassel, look for him to be on a shorter leash once the real games begin. If it’s Bridgewater, the Vikings are less likely to sit him down if he struggles.