Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s sprained left ankle is not serious and coach Mike Zimmer remains hopeful the rookie can play this week.

Zimmer said Monday that Bridgewater was feeling “a lot better.” Zimmer said Bridgewater had an MRI test after Sunday’s game and the tests showed no major damage.

The Vikings face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.

Bridgewater completed 19 of 30 passes for 317 yards and rushed for 27 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL start to lead the Vikings to a 41-28 victory against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Bridgewater’s left foot rolled underneath him when he tried to cut on a run before being tackled at the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. He went to the locker room on a cart with 6:11 left in game for X-rays on his left ankle.

When the tests were negative, Bridgewater came back to the sideline to witness the end of the game, but did not return. He was smiling when he left the field at the end of the game but appeared to have a slight limp.

“I felt what happened during the play. It was basically a non-contact injury,” Bridgewater said after the game. “I tried to make a plant move, and just rolled my ankle in a funny way. I wasn’t worried at all.”

Third-string quarterback Christian Ponder, who was active for the first time this year after Matt Cassel broke his foot last week against New Orleans, finished Sunday’s game.

With the Vikings needing another quarterback for practice, Minnesota signed former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Chandler Harnish to the practice squad, according to ESPN.