On Monday, August 7th, 2023 the NFL veteran free agent quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, and the Detroit Lions have agreed upon terms in order to sign Bridgewater for the upcoming 2023 – 2024 season of the National Football League.
This new and resourceful signing of Teddy will reunite Bridgewater with the Detroit Lions current head coach in Dan Campbell, who was the New Orleans Saints’ assistant head coach / tight ends coach when Teddy was in New Orleans playing quarterback for the Saints.
The contract is expected to be finalized this upcoming week, and until that point the details of the new contract between the Detroit Lions and Teddy Bridgewater have yet to be disclosed to the general public.
Teddy should add some reliable depth behind Jared Goff in the Detroit Lions quarterback room, as Goff is obviously the Detroit Lions clear – cut starting signal caller. The Detroit Lions were seeking the highest level of back – up insurance at the very important position of quarterback in today’s league.
Although Jared was primarily healthy throughout the 2022 – 2023 NFL season, and Goff played well last year, but the Detroit Lions overall depth at the quarterback position was not very strong, with the Detroit Lions punter, Jack Fox, as the only other football player on the Detroit Lions official team roster to complete a pass last season.
The Detroit Lions back – up quarterback, Nate Sudfeld, did happen to make an appearance in 2 – games during the 2022 – 2023 NFL season, however he did not register any official statistics.
Bridgewater visited the Detroit Lions in late July of 2023, and their head coach in Campbell did not sugarcoat or overexaggerate his interest in Teddy at that point in time.
“We’re Year 3 [in Campbell’s tenure as coach] and I think we’re in a much better position, and you want to know that you are in the best hands possible. I’ll leave it at that, but that’s also — it’s the competition,” the Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed to the major sports media outlets during training camp on Tuesday, July 25th, 2023. “It doesn’t mean that Nate’s out of anything if we go this route, if it works out. You’ll feel good about whoever comes out of the fire is going to be the right guy to help you along the way, but yeah, you don’t want the wheels to fall off.“
The 2022 – 2023 NFL Season for Teddy Bridgewater
Bridgewater spent the previous NFL season with the Miami Dolphins via a 1 – year contract worth approximately $6.5 million, and Teddy was the main back – up quarterback to the Miami Dolphins starting QB in Tua Tagovailoa. Bridgewater eventually ended up filling in for the often heavily injured Tagovailoa on several instances, although Teddy was also injured throughout the 2022 – 2023 NFL season.
Teddy wound up starting at quarterback in 2 – games, but both of those starts had to be cut short due to injuries. Bridgewater was forced out of his 1st – start versus the New York Jets during the NFL’s week – 5 last year as he played only 1 – snap prior to unfortunately being placed in the National Football League’s concussion protocol.
Bridgewater then was involuntary kept out of the Miami Dolphins’ week – 17 start following him injuring the pinkie finger on his throwing hand which paved the way for the rookie quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, Skylar Thompson, to start the NFL regular – season finale in week – 17 as well as the AFC wild – card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Overall, the now 30 – year – old Bridgewater, managed to see some game action with the Miami Dolphins over the course of his 5 – NFL games he participated in last season as he completed 62 % of his 79 – passes which was good for 683 – passing yards as well as 4 – touchdowns and 4 – interceptions during the previous season of the National Football League.
Prior to joining the Miami Dolphins, Teddy started a total of 29 – games throughout 2 – NFL seasons for the Carolina Panthers as well as the Denver Broncos. Originally a 1st – round NFL draft pick back in 2014 Bridgewater also has played quarterback for the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings over his 8 – NFL seasons. During that time Teddy has thrown for a total of 15,120 – passing yards, 75 – touchdowns, and 47 – interceptions while he completed 66.4 % of his pass attempts. Bridgewater also has rushed for 84 – yards as well as an additional 11 – rushing touchdowns.
Bridgewater’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
- NFL Pro Bowl Selection (2015)
- PFWA All – Rookie Team Selection (2014)
- Art Rooney Award Winner (2020)
- Second – Team All – AAC Selection (2013)
- Big East Offensive Player of The Year Award Winner (2012)
- First – Team All – Big East Selection (2012)
- Big East Rookie of the Year Award Winner (2011)