Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has “no doubt at all” he will be healthy enough to start Oct. 12 against the Detroit Lions.

The rookie first-round pick also said if the Vikings had played the Green Bay Packers on Sunday instead of Thursday night, he would have been ready to come back from a sprained left ankle.

Coach Mike Zimmer said the Vikings plan to start Bridgewater against the Lions.

Backup quarterback Christian Ponder took all the first-team snaps in practice this week, so Zimmer made the decision not to bring Bridgewater back four days after he sprained his ankle.

Ponder threw two interceptions and was sacked six times in the Vikings’ 42-10 blowout loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field.

“It was a decision that Coach (Zimmer) made, and they felt it was best for the team and felt it was best for me,” Bridgewater said.

Zimmer was asked whether Bridgewater lobbied to play Thursday.

“No. It wasn’t up to him. It was up to me,” Zimmer said.

Bridgewater passed for 317 yards and ran for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in his first career start. He suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s 41-28 victory.