'If fit, Ponder my first choice', says Vikings’ Coach Leslie Frazier - NFL News
Minnesota Vikings came within inches of securing a brilliant comeback victory on Sunday against Detroit Lions when regular quarterback Christian Ponder was replaced by Joe Webb.
Coach Leslie Frazier has however categorically stated that when fit, Ponder is and will remain his first choice at quarterback
"If Christian is healthy, he’s our No. 1 quarterback," he said. "No issue Christian is our starting quarterback."
Webb scored a brilliant 65-yard rushing touchdown to get the Vikings back into the game and set-up another for Toby Gerhart with a two-yard pass to bring his side within one scoring play of victory.
And he got real close with the effort bringing the Vikings to just a yard of the end-zone for the final play. On the resulting play Webb took the ball but fumbled it when Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy grabbed his facemask and Lions
recovered possession of the ball to win the game. A penalty should have been given for Levy’s tackle but the officials did not think much of the tackle. Webb himself did not notice the foul as he was concentrating on trying to get the ball into the end-zone
saying after the match
"I had so many things running through my head," Webb said. "I was just trying to make a play."
Ponder was not having a good game as he barely made it to the team sheet after recovering from a hip pointer. The quarterback took part in practice only on Friday and was a game time decision to play against the Lions.
Ponder was intercepted thrice during the match with one of the interceptions getting returned by Alphonso Smith for 30-yards for a touchdown.
"In the past, he would have thrown it away or tried to get some yards with his legs," Frazier said. "When he didn't, that's not the Christian we're accustomed to seeing."
The quarterback also made two touchdown passes however his interceptions were costing the team with Coach Leslie Frazier bringing the rookie quarterback off the field.
Ponder who joined the Minnesota Vikings this year has been a regular starter but the Vikings have not been in good form and lie bottom of the National Football Conference North Division. The rookie himself was not pleased with
his contribution
“I don't like to use the injury as an excuse," Ponder said. "I made great plays with the injury, I made bad plays with the injury. I just didn't play that well."
Tags: