National Football League

Vikings' Cassel on track to start as Ponder recovers from concussion

Published Dec. 4, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Matt Cassel is on track to start this week at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, with Christian Ponder recovering from a concussion.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Wednesday that Cassel "more than likely" will start instead of Ponder when the Vikings play at Baltimore on Sunday. Cassel took over late in the second quarter last week when Ponder was hit in the head and passed for 243 yards in half of a game to help the Vikings beat Chicago in overtime.

Frazier said Ponder had yet to pass all of the post-concussion tests. Even if he can practice Thursday, that's not much time for a quarterback to properly prepare. Frazier said Josh Freeman will be the backup to Cassel, who has started two games and relieved Ponder in three others.