National Football League

Pondering life as a 3rd-stringer with Vikings

Published Aug. 6, 2014 3:19 p.m. ET

foxsports

Christian Ponder's descent from first-round draft pick to third-string quarterback has been formalized, with the release of the first depth chart of the season by the Minnesota Vikings.

After losing the starting job to Matt Cassel last year and watching the team draft Teddy Bridgewater, Ponder entered the final year of his rookie contract in lame-duck mode, realizing the likelihood he'll soon be playing elsewhere.

Ponder says taking the least amount of turns in full-team drills has been frustrating for him, but he understands the situation. So while Bridgewater and Cassel are often surrounded by cameras and recorders in a swarm of reporters after practice, Ponder has usually walked off the field largely unnoticed.