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Vikings QB Bridgewater hurts ankle in 1st start

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

Teddy Bridgewater’s first NFL start ended early.

The rookie passed for 317 yards and a key 2-point conversion before spraining his left ankle in the fourth quarter of a 41-28 win over the Atlanta Falcons 41-28 on Sunday.

Bridgewater was 19 for 30 with no turnovers and ran five times for 27 yards and a score, but his last carry was costly. His left foot rolled underneath him as he was sandwiched by two tacklers at the 1-yard line. Matt Asiata powered his way in on the next play for a touchdown, and Bridgewater stayed in to zip a crisp pass to Rhett Ellison to push the lead to 35-28.

As Bridgewater was taken away on a cart, Christian Ponder took over at quarterback. Bridgewater was back on the sideline before the end of the game, with Ponder the only healthy quarterback left on the active roster.

Bridgewater replaced Matt Cassel in last week’s loss at New Orleans when the veteran broke his left foot.

X-rays were negative, and Bridgewater will undergo an MRI. The Vikings have only three days before they go to Green Bay on Thursday night.

Asked if he worried about the injury as he was driven away on the cart, Bridgewater said, “Not at all.”

The already banged-up Falcons offensive line was decimated by injuries in the game. The Falcons lost three starting linemen in the first three quarters, forcing them to play tight end Levin Toilolo at right tackle in the fourth.

Left guard Justin Blalock left the game in the second quarter with a back injury, right tackle Lamar Holmes went out with a right foot injury in the third quarter, and center Joe Hawley had to be taken off the field on a cart with a right leg injury at the end of the third.

The Falcons were already missing left tackle Sam Baker, who was lost for the year in the preseason to a right knee injury.

Another rookie quarterback, the Raiders’ Derek Carr, injured his left ankle and knee in the third quarter of a 38-14 loss to the Miami Dolphins in London.

Carr was 16 for 25 for 146 yards with one touchdown and one interception. With backup Matt Schaub at home in Oakland, Matt McGloin replaced Carr.

Already short-handed at linebacker, the Raiders lost Kaluka Maiava early in the game.

San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis left a 26-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles early in the third quarter with a back injury.

Davis made a 5-yard catch in the flat, and as he was being pulled down by one defender he was struck in the back by another and went down in pain. He got up holding his back, then went back down before he was helped to the locker room, clearly uncomfortable.

Davis had returned this week after sitting out last Sunday’s loss at Arizona with a left ankle injury.

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AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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