Kyle Rudolph on Vikings with Case Keenum at QB: ‘He isn’t out there as a backup’

So much of the success NFL players have is about attitude.

Sure, it starts with great talent. Sure, smart scheming is important.

‘He’s stepped up, he’s approached each and every game this year as if he’s the guy’

But attitude matters, and that’s something Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph believes has served Case Keenum well as the team’s quarterback. Sunday, Keenum led the Vikings to one of their biggest victories of the season against his former team, the Los Angeles Rams. He threw for 280 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings’ 24-7 win.

“Case has been huge for us,” Rudolph told Bruce Murray and Brady Quinn on the SiriusXM Blitz. “He’s stepped up, he’s approached each and every game this year as if he’s the guy, and I think that’s mainly the reason why he’s had so much success.

‘He’s won a lot of games as well’

“Case isn’t out there as a backup quarterback. He’s a starter in this league and he’s won a lot of games as well.”

Still, there is plenty of discussion about whether Teddy Bridgewater will return as the Vikings’ starter now that he has recovered from a serious knee injury.

‘If you know Teddy, you know the type of player he is’

“No, it doesn’t surprise me because if you know Teddy, you know the type of player he is, the type of person he is and what he has been through over the last 15 months,” Rudolph said. “He deserves that. He’s battled a really, really devastating knee injury and put himself in the situation to be ready to go when called upon. But I think part of the reason he works around here is because Case just goes out each week and prepares as if he’s the starter.

“Teddy’s about as unselfish as anybody I’ve been around and he had a quote last week saying it’s not about him, it’s about us, it’s about this team. So I know Teddy’s preparing himself and he’ll be ready to go when and if his time is called.”