Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum looks to throw a pass during a practice recently. Once a career backup, Keenum has become perhaps the NFL's best success story of 2017.

In 2012 and 2013, linebacker Bryan Braman and quarterback Case Keenum were Houston Texans teammates, Keenum spending 2012 on the practice squad, after going undrafted out of the University of Houston.

“No,” Braman said Tuesday, when asked if he ever thought he’d be preparing to face Keenum in a conference championship game.

“I’m happy for him. Just watching him through his career, all the ups and downs and everything, he’s a great guy, great person,” said Braman, who plays mostly on special teams. “It has to do with his persistence. In this league, if you don’t keep at it, it can chew you up and spit you out.”

Keenum was a Texan in 2012 and 2013, was waived at the end of training camp in 2014 and was claimed by the Rams. He came back to Houston after being claimed off the Rams’ practice squad in December 2014. But the following March, the Rams got him back for a seventh-round 2016 pick. Keenum began 2015 backing up Nick Foles, eventually succeeded Foles as the starter, and began 2016 in that role, before giving way during the season to No.1 overall pick Jared Goff.

The Vikings had nothing more than insurance in mind when they signed Keenum in 2017 to a one-year deal to back up Sam Bradford, as Teddy Bridgewater continued his rehab from a devastating 2016 knee injury. Bradford played an outstanding season opener, maybe the best game of his career, but suffered yet another knee injury, and Keenum got his chance.

“I think he knows what makes him a good player. He does a good job of highlighting that,” Braman said. “He knows what his deficiencies are and he . plays to his strengths.”

Braman said that Keenum, who clocked in at 6-feet-and-half-an-inch, 208 pounds at the 2012 NFL scouting combine, “knows he’s undersized and does his best to get the ball out where it’s supposed to be.”

Eagles right guard Brandon Brooks also played in Houston with Keenum, for both of Keenum’s quarterbacking stints there. Brooks said Keenum reminds him very much of Foles, off the field.

“God-first guys, high character guys. You’ll never hear anything negative said about either guy. Always super-positive,” Brooks said. “Both have overcome obstacles to be in the positions they are now - throughout their careers.”

Keenum completed 67.6 percent of his passes this season, for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

In college, Keenum first redshirted behind Kevin Kolb, before Kolb was drafted by the Eagles in 2007. Keenum suffered a torn ACL three games into the 2010 season and was granted a sixth year of eligibility in 2011, which he used to start graduate school.

Eagles safety Rodney McLeod played with both Foles and Keenum on the 2015 Rams.

“Good quarterback, good leader. Doesn’t turn the ball over much,” McLeod said. “Has a nice touch on the ball and competes his butt off. Those are all things I’ve seen when I was with the Rams and I’m seeing right now, as he’s getting his opportunity.”