Sam Bradford got the trade he wanted months ago — just eight days before the season opener.

The Philadelphia Eagles sent Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday for a pair of draft picks. Bradford replaces Teddy Bridgewater, who was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury this week.

The Eagles receive a first-round pick in 2017 and a fourth-round pick in 2018.

‘‘This was not part of the blueprint, but we have to take advantage of opportunities that are presented to us,’’ Eagles personnel boss Howie Roseman said. ‘‘We did not go into this wanting to trade Sam Bradford, but after the offer they made, we felt this was the best move for our football team.’’

Bradford’s departure means backup Chase Daniel will start the season as Philadelphia’s No. 1 quarterback. Carson Wentz, selected with the No. 2 overall pick, missed the last three preseason games after breaking his ribs. McLeod Bethel-Thompson, the third quarterback on Philadelphia’s roster, was among the cuts announced Saturday. Joining him was 2014 Pro Bowl kicker Cody Parker.

The Vikings will be turning to Bradford over veteran Shaun Hill once Bradford learns yet another new system. Bradford will now play for his sixth offensive coordinator — Norv Turner — in seven seasons. A former No. 1 overall pick, Bradford was acquired from St. Louis by Chip Kelly last year. He had a strong second half in Kelly’s up-tempo offense.

Bradford passed up a chance to test free agency and signed a two-year, $36 million deal with $22 million guaranteed in March. He regretted the decision after the Eagles traded several draft picks to select Wentz, and Bradford skipped voluntary workouts in the offseason.

Bradford reunites with Pat Shurmur, Minnesota’s tight ends coach. Shurmur was Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator in 2015 and Bradford’s OC his rookie season with the Rams.

The Vikings won the NFC North last season and acquiring Bradford means they clearly think they will compete again.

The Eagles were 7-9 last season and would’ve been in rebuilding mode in a division other than the weak NFC East. Trading Bradford allows them to develop Wentz sooner than expected.

Kaepernick sticks

Colin Kaepernick survived San Francisco’s roster cuts when the 49ers determined that his ability as a quarterback offset any potential distraction over his refusal to stand during the national anthem.

The 49ers announced that Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert, and Christian Ponder will be the team’s three quarterbacks to start their first season with Chip Kelly as coach. Kelly had telegraphed that move earlier in the week when he called Kaepernick one of his team’s two best quarterbacks. Jeff Driskel, the fourth QB on the roster during camp, was cut. Kaepernick is expected to be one of the backups to Gabbert to start the season.

Kaepernick’s status on the team was briefly in question after his anthem protest over racial oppression and police brutality in the United States became public last weekend.

‘‘When he’s here, he’s all about football and all about work,’’ Kelly said. ‘‘That’s what I’ve seen since we’ve been here. He continues to display that every day he’s been in this building.’’

Kaepernick’s performance had plummeted in recent years after he led San Francisco to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season and the NFC title game the following year.

He eventually lost his starting job to Gabbert midway through last season and had done little to show he should win it back this year. He was slowed in the offseason after undergoing operations on his non-throwing shoulder, right thumb and left knee and did not get any practice time.

He returned to the practice field at the start of training camp in late July but then missed about two weeks with a tired right shoulder but wasn’t able to win the job back.

‘‘He knows he still has work to do,’’ Kelly said. ‘‘He’s not up to his playing weight that he was when he was successful here and he’ll continue to work on that. He missed a couple of weeks there with the arm and that set him back a little bit in terms of his ability to compete for it.’’

Sanchez moves on

Mark Sanchez, Denver’s biggest offseason acquisition, didn’t make the roster, saving the Broncos $3.5 million and a seventh-round draft pick.

The Broncos save the money and no longer owe a conditional seventh-round draft pick to the Eagles, who agreed to trade Sanchez to Denver back in March. Sanchez, however, was beaten out by second-year pro Trevor Siemian, a seventh-round pick in 2015 from Northwestern. The Broncos also signed Austin Davis on a one-year deal to mentor Siemian and rookie Paxton Lynch, neither of whom have thrown a pass in the NFL regular season.

The Broncos also waived running back Ronnie Hillman.

Sanchez, meanwhile, wasn’t out of work for long. A person with knowledge of the deal said the Cowboys have agreed on a one-year contract with Sanchez, who will back up rookie Dak Prescott while Tony Romo recovers from a back injury.

Giants cut Williams

The Giants waived third-year running back and former Boston College star Andre Williams. The fourth-round pick in 2014 led the team in rushing as a rookie with 721 yards and seven touchdowns. He was limited to 257 yards as the Giants used four running backs in 2015. Williams had 95 yards on 25 carries in the preseason, making him the second-leading rusher behind Bobby Rainey. ‘‘Andre is a guy that played some good football for us,’’ coach Ben McAdoo said. ‘‘We’re going to miss him. It was another one of those really tough decisions to make.’’ . . . Former Patriots running back Stevan Ridley was among the players cut by the Colts.

Milliner, Amaro cut

The Jets cut cornerback Dee Milliner and tight end Jace Amaro, two high draft picks once considered future cornerstones of the franchise. Milliner was the No. 9 overall pick in 2013, but injuries and inconsistency prevented him from living up to expectations. He was waived/injured with an ailing hamstring, meaning he would revert to the Jets’ injured reserve list if he clears waivers. Amaro was a second-rounder in 2014 who had 38 catches for 345 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie before missing all last season with a shoulder injury . . . Former Pro Bowl running back Justin Forsett and Navy star Keenan Reynolds were released by the Ravens . . . The Texans activated star defensive end J.J. Watt (back) from the physically unable to perform list . . . The Steelers acquired cornerback Justin Gilbert from the Browns for a 2018 sixth-round pick, hoping the former first-round pick can deliver on the potential he never fully realized in two disappointing years with Cleveland . . . The Packers released three-time Pro Bowl lineman Josh Sitton . . . The Saints placed tight end Michael Hoomanawanui on injured reserve, ending his season. The former Patriot had been sidelined since going down with an undisclosed injury in the third preseason game.