The Detroit Lions added depth at the quarterback position on Monday. While Jared Goff is expected to assume the starting role, the team signed a veteran QB to back him up. It’s none other than Teddy Bridgewater who will don Honolulu blue this coming season for Detroit.
“The Lions are signing QB Teddy Bridgewater after a recent visit to Detroit,” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport tweeted. Rapoport credited both Mike Garafolo and himself on the report.
The #Lions are signing QB Teddy Bridgewater after a recent visit to Detroit, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. A new backup QB. pic.twitter.com/pRA6EqMi5Q
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 7, 2023
Bridgewater had rummaged for a spot after spending the last few seasons bouncing around. Originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, the former Louisville Cardinals quarterback has played for five teams in five years after signing with Detroit. After three seasons with the Vikings, he joined the New Orleans Saints as a backup in 2018. He spent two years with the team before going elsewhere in the NFC South to the Carolina Panthers.
Following one year with the Panthers, Bridgewater joined the Denver Broncos, where he started 14 games. He spent last season with the Miami Dolphins as the backup to Tua Tagovailoa. Bridgewater saw action in five games and started two, while Tagovailoa dealt with concussion issues.
The Lions roll into 2023 with a lot of hype after a promising 2022 season. Whether Bridgewater will have an impact on that this season is yet to be seen, but this is a smart signing by the Lions.
The NFL world reacted to the news.
Kings of the North https://t.co/WyXcF6FE1t
— Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 (@ArifHasanNFL) August 7, 2023
The #Lions have checked in on Teddy Bridgewater since March, maintaining steady interest. In late July, they finally hosted him on a visit. And today, a deal gets done. https://t.co/O5RAQXnaUs
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 7, 2023
Teddy Two Gloves is making his way around the NFC North.
Two teams down, two to go. https://t.co/KEM8gqQMyP
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) August 7, 2023
This is big today and massive if something happens to Goff. This team has done such a nice job of building its roster but this was a hole that had to be filled. https://t.co/76Oyd1yabc
— Dan Miller (@DanMillerFox2) August 7, 2023
Good signing. Lions QB room isn't very inspiring at any level, but their backup situation going into the season was especially dire. https://t.co/OZgCqJDSnI
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) August 7, 2023
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022