EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is expected to miss at least the next season while recovering from a dislocated left knee and torn anterior cruciate ligament after a freak practice injury Tuesday.

Bridgewater was taken by ambulance to a hospital after crumpling to the turf without being hit. The team announced hours later that his knee also had ‘‘other structural damage’’ that will need to be repaired in a surgery that will be scheduled in the coming days. However, the team did say the 23-year-old quarterback had no nerve or arterial damage and it expects a full recovery after a ‘‘significant’’ rehabilitation.

Bridgewater dropped back to pass during a drill, planted his foot, and immediately went down. He grabbed his left knee while teammates and athletic trainers huddled around him.

The scene was so jolting that coach Mike Zimmer immediately ended practice. Players were visibly distraught as they left the field, some kneeling in prayer for one of the team’s most popular players. Moments later, a siren-blaring ambulance rushed to team headquarters to get the quarterback to the hospital.

About 2½ hours after the injury, Zimmer tried to straddle the line between expressing concern for a beloved teammate and keeping the rest of his team from losing focus and confidence.

Zimmer addressed the team in full and was clearly upset for Bridgewater, a player he quickly bonded with after he was drafted in the first round in 2014. But he also tried to steer the team’s focus back to the field as the players prepare for their preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night and the season opener at Tennessee on Sept. 11.

‘‘I'm not going to let this team feel sorry for itself,’’ Zimmer said before the full details of his injury were known. ‘‘We’re going to grieve today and be upset about it. It’s more about our feelings for Teddy and him as a person and getting better than it is about anything else. Teddy’s a great kid and he'll be back as soon as he possibly can if it is real bad. But we’re going to keep fighting.’’

Zimmer said he spoke to Bridgewater’s mother several times to keep her updated, had some phone conversations with mentor Bill Parcells, and even talked ‘‘in spirit’’ to his father Bill, an ex-coach who died last summer, about how to best handle the situation.

‘‘We’re not going to stick our heads in the sand, we’re not going to tuck our [tail between] our legs,’’ Zimmer said. ‘‘We’re not looking for excuses. We’re going to go out and fight like we always do.’’

There is little behind Bridgewater on the depth chart. Shaun Hill is the primary backup, but he’s 36 years old and has played only sparingly over the last five years. Taylor Heinicke, last year’s No. 3 quarterback, has been out all preseason with an injury, and undrafted rookie Joel Stave has struggled mightily at times during practices.

The Vikings host the Rams in their final preseason game Thursday night, though Bridgewater and most of the starters were not expected to play.

Hill started eight games for the Rams in 2014, throwing eight touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Other than that, he has thrown a total of 23 passes dating to 2010.

‘‘I have confidence in Shaun,’’ Zimmer said. ‘‘I think he’s played great this preseason. He’s been in 2-minute drills. He’s done a phenomenal job.’’

The Vikings were counting on Bridgewater to take some major steps forward after a promising start to his career. He helped lead the Vikings to the NFC North championship last season as more of a game manager, but Zimmer and offensive coordinator Norv Turner had said they expected him to be much more of a playmaker in 2016.

Bridgewater missed the second preseason game with a sore shoulder, but was sharp Sunday against San Diego. He went 12 for 16 for 161 yards and a touchdown in two quarters of work.

Zimmer said he has already had preliminary discussions with general manager Rick Spielman about adding another quarterback if necessary, but the injury likely puts even more emphasis on Adrian Peterson and the running game.

The determined coach rattled off the names of 10 players that would be key to the team’s success in 2016, driving home his point that ‘‘this isn’t a one-man deal.’’

‘‘I can go down the line,’’ Zimmer said, ‘‘and I'll take them with me into an alley anywhere.’’