Teddy Bridgewater to start season on PUP; Alex Boone released

— -- The Minnesota Vikings kept quarterback Teddy Bridgewater on the physically unable to perform list to start the season and released offensive guard Alex Boone as they trimmed their roster to 53 players.

According to multiple reports, the Vikings approached Boone about taking a pay cut. When he declined, Minnesota cut the 30-year-old guard. Boone will cost $3.4 million in dead money toward the team's salary cap this year.

Boone signed a four-year, $26.8 million contract with Minnesota in March 2016. The Vikings will now have new starters at every position on the offensive line. Nick Easton is slated to fill Boone's void at left guard while rookie Pat Elflein will start at center after battling with Easton for the position throughout the preseason. Riley Reiff will anchor the line at left tackle with Mike Remmers at right tackle and Joe Berger at right guard.

Bridgewater sustained what some thought would be a career-ending injury in August 2016 when he dislocated his knee and suffered a complete tear of his ACL and other ligaments.

Saturday's move is a positive sign for Bridgewater and the Vikings, a decision that backs the team's belief that he could return to the field later this season.

Bridgewater will be eligible to come off the PUP after the first six games. Bridgewater would then have five weeks to return to practice. Minnesota would then have three weeks to activate him to the 53-man roster.

The quarterback is entering the final year of his rookie contract.