METAIRIE Marshon Lattimore Jersey White , La. (AP) — Saints coach Sean Payton says Teddy Bridgewater will start New Orleans’ regular-season finale Sunday against Carolina.The decision announced Friday afternoon allows starter Drew Brees to rest for playoffs with the Saints already having wrapped up the top seed in the NFC.Bridgewater has appeared in just four games this season and has thrown only one pass, which was incomplete. Now the former first-round draft choice by Minnesota is set to assume his first prominent role in a regular-season game since 2015. A major knee injury has sidelined Bridgewater nearly all of the last two seasons.Payton says Bridgewater has “looked sharp all week,” and has made some “pretty special” throws during practices this season.Payton hasn’t gone into detail about other playing-time decisions Sunday. But the Saints have ruled out offensive linemen Terron Armstead (chest), Larry Warford (knee) and Jermon Bushrod (hamstring) on Friday’s injury report. EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Everson Griffen was back at practice with the Minnesota Vikings for the first time in almost six weeks, a significant point of progress in returning to his spot at right defensive end and re-establishing his pass-rushing and run-stopping skills in a game setting for the NFC North leaders.The first and most important step, though, was acknowledging his need for mental health treatment in the tough-guy environment of football that has long fostered a mindset of powering through a problem.“Sometimes you’ve just got to put your pride aside and know when enough is enough. Sometimes you’ve got to take it upon yourself and know when enough is enough and when you can’t handle it,” Griffen said.Griffen was a full participant in the workout on Wednesday afternoon, but coach Mike Zimmer said the decision about whether he’d play for the Vikings (4-2-1) on Sunday night against New Orleans would be made at the end of the week. Stephen Weatherly has started in Griffen’s place at right end for the past five games.“I feel good. I was able to work out and do the things I have to do, but playing this game of football https://www.thesaintslockerroom.com/authentic-drew-brees-jersey , it requires more than just working out,” Griffen said. “You’ve got to push somebody, hit somebody, get your timing back.”Though Griffen’s reintegration with the defense will be gradual, his welcome by the team was not.“It felt great to see my guys, man. I love each and every one of my teammates, and it was just good to see the smiles on their face,” said Griffen, who was taken by ambulance to a hospital on Sept. 22 after a scary series of incidents around the Twin Cities when he threatened violence in a hotel lobby and made repeated comments about people trying to kill him.“I had a lot of support from my family, the Minnesota Vikings, the doctors Womens Marshon Lattimore Jersey , my teammates, the fans, and you know I want to give my apologizes to people I impacted. I’m sorry if I affected them in any type of way,” Griffen said.“I’m just excited to get back here with my team and get back to the grind of things. It’s been hard to be away, but I’m happy to be back. It’s a good feeling right now, and I’m taking one day at a time and one thing at a time to get things back on track.”Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said the organization was in communication with Griffen’s medical team throughout his hiatus, relying on the professional recommendations regarding his return.“This is an illness,” Zimmer said, “and he’s done a good job of helping to get better and continues to try to get better. He is probably going to have to continue to do that, just like we all have to do in life.”Griffen politely declined to discuss in detail his treatment plan or specific issues, but said he’d do so in the future to use his public platform as way to positively influence the millions of Americans who struggle with some form of mental illness.“You need to ask for help. You need to go out there and find a good support team and do the right things to be able to take care of yourself Alvin Kamara Jersey White ,” Griffen said.Seeking and maintaining a work-life balance was a daily goal that Griffen frequently mentioned during a 10-minute session with reporters, his first such appearance since playing at Green Bay on Sept. 16 in the second game of the season.“I learned a lot about the man outside of football. I had a lot of time to reflect on my life and where I want to go and the decisions I made,” he said.Make no mistake, though: Being back in the meeting rooms and on the practice field with the Vikings was a cathartic experience.“It was awesome, man. Just getting back to life in general, driving my car, doing all the little things,” Griffen said. “You’ve got to appreciate the little things in life.”