Sep 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (right) and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton (behind) tackle Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel (16) in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Sep 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (right) and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton (behind) tackle Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel (16) in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. REUTERS

Minnesota Vikings rookie Teddy Bridgewater must be praying for a chance to showcase his talent, but not under these circumstances.

The Viking announced Wednesday that starting quarterback Matt Cassel is out for the season due to a broken left foot he sustained during the loss against the New Orleans last weekend. The Viking dropped to the Saints 20-9 and will have to recover without the reliable Cassel. Now, they have to turn to neophyte Bridgewater to carry the team for the next 13 weeks.

''You work so hard in the offseason to give yourself an opportunity to go out there and play, and then to have it happen this early in the season, especially with the belief that I have in this team, the thoughts of going on and having a lot of success this year, and for it to happen this early is super devastating to me,'' Cassel said per Yahoo Sports.

The injury is another big blow to the Vikings' season. The team was hoping that tight end Kyle Rudolph may be used in his stead, given that Bridgewater is essentially learning the ropes. However, the player had to undergo surgery Tuesday to repair a sports hernia ailment. He is projected to be out for four to six weeks.

Aside from Cassel, the Vikings will be also missing the services right guard Brandon Fusco, also sidelined for the year due to a torn pectoral muscle. During the Saints loss, linebacker Chad Greenway also reportedly aggravated a rib injury and broke a left hand while running back Adrian Peterson remains shelved due to a child abuse charge that is still ongoing in Texas.

Due to the assortment of side-lined personnel, the Vikings quickly looked for replacement players such as quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson and tight end Ryan Otten were commissioned to the practice squad while practice players Austin Wentworth (offensive lineman) and Chase Ford (tight end) were elevated to active roster. Other changes due to the injuries include the promotion of former first rounder Christian Ponder to back-up quarterback and the filling-in of Vladimir Ducasse for the injured Fusco.

The Vikings are currently sitting third in the NFC North in the young National Football League season, sporting a 1-2 record.