AUGUST 11: Bridgewater agreed to terms with the Lions on a one-year deal that can max out at $5MM, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who adds the contract includes $2.5MM guaranteed (Twitter link). This marks a notable decrease from Bridgewater’s $6.5MM guaranteed with the Dolphins last year, but the 10th-year veteran is coming off an injury-plagued season.
AUGUST 7: After contract talks in the spring and the sides getting together for a recent meeting, the Lions and Teddy Bridgewater have a deal in place. The veteran quarterback is heading to Detroit, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).
The Lions had kept in contact with the former Vikings first-round pick since making him an offer by early April, hosting him on a visit in July. Bridgewater, 30, is now in place to become Jared Goff‘s backup. This will be the Louisville alum’s seventh NFL team. Dan Campbell was on the Saints’ staff during Bridgewater’s two-year New Orleans tenure, and the former tight ends coach will bring him into the fold at a rather pivotal point on the Lions’ timeline.
Bridgewater is coming off a disappointing season with his hometown team. The Dolphins added him on a one-year deal, and with Tua Tagovailoa sustaining multiple concussions, a door opened for the backup to help an improved team. But Bridgewater could not stay on the field, either. The league’s enhanced concussion protocol led to Bridgewater leaving a game against the Jets in October, and he suffered a dislocated pinkie when replacing Tagovailoa in Week 17. Bridgewater was not available for the Dolphins’ Week 18 game or their wild-card contest in Buffalo.
While Bridgewater is attempting to bounce back, he will give the Lions more security behind Goff. Prior to this signing, Nate Sudfeld was positioned as Detroit’s top backup. Campbell had said in June the team was content at quarterback; midway through training camp, that no longer appeared the case.
Hendon Hooker should be expected to grow into the QB2 role, but there is a real possibility the Lions give the third-round pick a true redshirt year after a torn ACL ended his Tennessee career. With Bridgewater having lapped Sudfeld for experience, he will be in place as a stopgap while Hooker recovers and learns the NFL game. Hooker currently resides on the Lions’ active/NFI list.
Injuries have obviously played a big role in Bridgewater’s NFL career. A severe leg malady halted his run as the Vikings’ starter back in 2016; that setback sidelined him for nearly two seasons. But Bridgewater did enjoy the opportunity to return as a starter for multiple teams — the Panthers and Broncos — during the 2020s. Twenty-nine of Bridgewater’s 65 career starts came with Carolina and Denver. The conservative passer did not exactly provide remarkable work in those seasons, but he was plenty capable when available during the 2020 and ’21 campaigns.
The Broncos went 7-7 in Bridgewater’s starts, with the 14th start involving a Drew Lock cameo sinking Denver in a close matchup with eventual AFC champion Cincinnati. Bridgewater threw 18 touchdown passes compared to just seven interceptions during his Broncos season. His 15-TD pass showing in Carolina produced a 17th-place QBR finish. The Panthers still jettisoned Bridgewater’s three-year, $63MM deal after that season. His earning power has diminished significantly in the years since, but the former starter remains a sought-after backup.
As Drew Brees‘ backup in New Orleans, Bridgewater went 5-1 when replacing the future Hall of Famer. Granted, those Saints rosters were among the NFL’s best at the time. But Campbell having been there during the 2018 and ’19 seasons bodes well for Bridgewater’s Detroit fit. Goff did not miss any time due to injury last season, but the former No. 1 overall pick did miss three games in 2021. The Lions lost each contest.
He’s certainly a better backup plan than Nate Sudfeld.
I like the signing.
If anything happens to Goff the O-line will be able to give Teddy the time he needs to operate in the pocket.
Not the worst signing, but he has a noodle arm.
So does Goff, so he’ll fit right in here.
Knew it. I had teddy down to lions bengals or jaguars and this makes most sense
Big cats
Cat Gang
I love the people that hate on Goff regularly. How in the hell does he have a “noodle” arm? Having trouble remembering he was a top-5 QB the last 10 games of the season last year? He has looked unstoppable in camp and media the likes of Peter King and others are raving about his amazing timing with his playmakers. We’ll see what the haters say towards Dec.
I’ve been one of Goff’s biggest detractors over the noodle arm, but it’s fine; it works for the offense Johnson is running here. Goff thrived in that style of offense, favoring the short passes over the long ball overall, and that’s fine. No need to be defensive about it; they can both be true (that Goff is a top 5-10 QB and he also has a noodle arm).
Not defensive at all. I just laugh b/c I watched every minute of Lions games last season and he actually throws a great long ball. Several times he threw absolute darts to Chark, St Brown and company. I just hope that what we saw last season and so far this camp translates to the field.
He had a couple decent down field throws, but was bottom of the barrel YPC in the league, so the narrative is supported by that evidence, whether we want to believe it or not. Not arguing with you btw, just more so playing devil’s advocate.
Johnson’s offense is built around Goff’s strength, and that’s the shorter passes; out routes, shallow cross/pick plays, etc., that allow our guys like Saint to thrive, and hopefully Gibbs, Raymond and LaPorta will thrive in that scheme as well. Definitely gonna need Raymond or one of the other WR’s to step up big time, Saint isn’t gonna do it all on his own, and I have major doubts about LaPorta myself, but of course hope I’m wrong about him.
People forget how quality Goff was from 2017-2018 too, even in his down years in 2019 and 2020 he helped lead the Rams to winning records
Goff convinced me last year that he’s vastly improved. He’s not a top 10 starting QB yet, but he’s no bottom-feeder either. He’s a perfectly legit starter for a team with playoff potential.
Mariota is the true noodle arm
Mariota most definitely is, but his legs are made of cast iron
There about a half dozen teams that could have used Bridgewater instead of the untried losers they have as backups. He should have been signed prior to OTAs.
Sum ppl say Joe Montana had noodle arm, didn’t regularly see em air out bombs but ball was usually on the money, in the window, used to get alota yards outa 5yard slant plays w/Rice or whoever takin that quick nothing pass n jetn, not all about velo seen sum absolute cannon arms that were pick city all day w/beautiful lasers that 2frequently find DBs hands
I really like what the Lions have been doing the last couple of seasons. Dan Campbell seems to be moving them in the right direction. I’m not even a Lions fan, but they should be fun to watch this season.
Agreed on all counts.
I’m a little apprehensive about all the hype surrounding the team given the fact we haven’t done anything yet, but I’m hopeful, and the team has actually been fun to watch. Not something I’ve been able to say since maybe the Stafford to Megatron days.
How dare they omit Adrian Martinez in this article.
Please inform Teddy about the suspension he would receive should he place a bet while in a team facility. He should also be aware that driving 140 mph in a 55 mph
zone there will be no suspension forthcoming from the nfl
Cry harder