Teddy Bridgewater

Dan Campbell, Hendon Hooker Address Teddy Bridgewater Signing

December 27th, 2024 at 2:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Usually, a Super Bowl contender signing a new backup quarterback in Week 17 signals a glaring lack of faith in the club’s usual No. 2.

But Lions head coach Dan Campbell insisted that adding Teddy Bridgewater “doesn’t mean we’re disappointed” in 2023 third-rounder Hendon Hooker, who has spent the season backing up Jared Goff.

“It’s just a different world that we’re getting ready to walk into,” Campbell said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “We felt like this was the right thing to do, especially with somebody that I have a tremendous amount of trust with and for. He understands our offense well.”

Campbell’s comments could be read as a subtle acknowledgement of the obvious experience disparity between Bridgewater, a nine-year veteran with 65 career starts, and Hooker, a 2023 third-rounder who has played 33 total snaps in the NFL.

Bridgewater has more passing attempts in the playoffs than Hooker has in his entire career. Campbell said that either quarterback could see the field if Goff misses any time in the playoffs and mentioned Bridgewater’s ability to lead the scout team offense as well. Hooker, who has stayed in touch with Bridgewater since his retirement last year, isn’t taking the signing personally.

“I figured Teddy was going to come back here this season,” Hooker said. “I didn’t know when. I knew when his season was over he was going to come back. I mean, we’ve been talking about it since the summer. He’s still my mentor at the end of the day, so any questions I have about life or this game of football or being a pro always seem to lean on Teddy.”

A Lions team that has seen injuries deplete its depth chart at other positions is now further protected at quarterback. While Goff has been one of the NFL’s most durable players during his nine-year career, the experience gulf between he and Hooker likely prompted this reunion. Bridgewater may well return to coaching soon after this season, but he also could be the QB the Lions call on if something were to happen to Goff during the playoffs. That makes this one of the more interesting late-season signings in recent memory.

QB Teddy Bridgewater Rejoins Lions

December 26th, 2024 at 10:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

10:25pm: This is an active-roster deal, Rapoport adds. Rather than take the practice squad route like so many veterans have upon signing in-season, Bridgewater will be on the Lions’ 53 immediately.

Teams also showed recent interest in the successful high school coach/part-time QB for assistant positions, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. While coaching at the NFL level may be in the experienced passer’s future, Bridgewater preferred the chance to try to win a Super Bowl as a player first.

11:37am: Teddy Bridgewater enjoyed tremendous success in his first season as a high school head coach, leading his team to a state championship. He had announced intentions to explore an NFL return, however, and a familiar team will take him up on that effort.

The Lions are bringing Bridgewater back, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo report. Bridgewater spent last season in Detroit, announcing last December would retire and pursue coaching. As the Lions attempt to reach their first Super Bowl a year later, they have secured veteran QB depth via a reunion.

This will give the Lions more familiarity, as Bridgewater rejoins a quarterback room housing Jared Goff and Hendon Hooker. Bridgewater, 32, had played ahead of Hooker during the latter’s rookie season — one spent mostly on the reserve/NFI list thanks to a college ACL tear — but the second-year passer has worked as Goff’s backup this year. Goff and Hooker are the only two QBs on Detroit’s active roster. Unless Bridgewater is joining the NFC North leaders’ practice squad, the team will carry three QBs again.

Upon retiring, Bridgewater landed an interesting gig. He became the head coach of his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High, and he led the school to a state championship. This might not be a long-term move, as Bridgewater hinted at returning to the league before potentially stepping back into the role of head coach at his former high school. It appears Bridgewater and the Lions had kept in contact, and the sides have at least agreed on a short-term partnership for a second straight year.

The Lions had initially signed Bridgewater during their 2023 training camp. They then placed Nate Sudfeld on IR, clearing the way for the veteran passer to back up Goff. Detroit did not need Bridgewater last season, as Goff continued to display durability, and has not needed Hooker to make any starts this year. During his Lions stint, Goff has only missed time due to injury in 2021. His rebound has been one of the defining NFL stories this decade, and the sides agreed on a long-term extension this offseason. Bridgewater, however, would supply experience Hooker does not.

It would stand to reason Bridgewater has kept himself in good shape during his initial stint coaching at the high school level. The former first-round pick was unable to stay healthy during his 2022 Dolphins stint, but he held up in a backup role with the Lions. Bridgewater has made 65 starts over the course of his career, one that included a recovery from a severe knee injury. The 2014 draftee has since worked as a full-time starter for the Panthers and Broncos. Two concussions ended his run in Denver; that 2021 season marked the last time Bridgewater was a starter.

Dan Campbell said during training camp Sudfeld was outperforming Hooker, but the Lions did not keep three QBs on their active roster. They instead cut Sudfeld, adding Jake Fromm to their practice squad a day later. Fromm serves as Detroit’s No. 3 quarterback; his status will be worth monitoring now that Bridgewater is back.

The Lions drafted Hooker in last year’s third round, signing off on a rehab project that included a lengthy NFI stay. Three Detroit blowouts this season gave Hooker some playing time; he has thrown nine passes after sitting last season. If Goff were to go down now, Bridgewater’s season in Ben Johnson‘s offense may well move him back into the role of the immediate backup. Two more seasons remain on Hooker’s rookie deal. While the Tennessee alum may well go back to the role of top Goff backup entering the offseason, it is certainly worth wondering if he has lost that job for the season’s remainder.

Campbell confirmed he and Bridgewater have stayed in touch, adding (via Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers) this does not mean the team has lost faith in Hooker. Having both players active sounds like it is in the cards for the Lions, with Campbell indicating the team taking advantage of the emergency QB rule in the playoffs was a factor in the Bridgewater reunion.

Teddy Bridgewater Eyeing NFL Comeback

December 17th, 2024 at 10:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Teddy Bridgewater retired from the NFL after the 2023 season, but he revealed that he is interested with signing with a team this season (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport).

After retirement, Bridgewater took the head coaching job at Miami Northwestern Senior High School and led his alma mater to a state championship in his first season.

But the former first-round pick has kept an eye on the NFL, saying on NFL Network that he “might be signing with a team” in the coming weeks before returning to Miami Northwestern in February.

Bridgewater explained that his team knew of his plan, saying “We wanted to win a state championship, and then Coach goes back to the league, see what happens, and then come back in February and continue coaching high school football.”

Bridgewater didn’t name any interested teams when asked, so no signing appears imminent.

“Right now, I’m enjoying this state championship,” he said with a smile.

Bridgewater was the 32nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and earned a starting job with the Vikings as a rookie. He led the team to an 11-5 record in 2015, earning Pro Bowl honors along the way. He suffered a brutal knee injury during training camp in 2016, resulting in a 19-month recovery period with one final appearance for Minnesota in Week 15 of the 2017 season.

The Vikings let Bridgewater walk in free agency, which began several years of moving from team to team. He first signed with the Jets, who traded him to the Saints. Bridgewater stayed in New Orleans for two seasons before stints with the Panthers, Broncos, Dolphins, and Lions.

Teddy Bridgewater Plans To Retire After 2023 Season

December 16th, 2023 at 10:22pm CST by Ben Levine

Teddy Bridgewater is planning on calling it a career following the 2023 campaign. In a conversation with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the veteran quarterback revealed that he plans to retire following the season.

Bridgewater admitted that he almost retired following a difficult 2022 campaign, but Dan Campbell convinced him to come to Detroit and serve as Jared Goff‘s backup. When the season ends, the former first-round pick intends to transition to high school coaching, with an eye on his alma matter, Miami Northwestern.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Bridgewater told Birkett. “Injuries, highs, lows, the success, the failures. It all, it builds character, and that’s what it did for me. Like I never look like, ‘Oh man, what if?’ Nah. Whatever was meant for me, it played out the exact way it was meant. And I’m still with that mindset every day and I’m just really appreciative that I’m in Year 10, I tell everyone this is my last year, so I’m in my final year and I’m just enjoying it all, man.”

Bridgewater entered the NFL as a first-round pick by the Vikings in 2014. The QB earned Pro Bowl honors in 2015 after guiding his team to an 11-5 record. He suffered a career-altering knee injury during training camp in 2016. He returned late in the 2017 campaign and has spent the past six years with six different teams.

The veteran struggled with injuries during his 2022 season in Miami, leading to him considering retirement. However, he had a number of connections to Detroit that forced him to reconsider. Campbell was in New Orleans when Bridgewater served as the Saints backup quarterback, so the Lions brass understood the value of a high-end QB2. Plus, as Birkett points out, the Lions considered acquiring Bridgewater and the No. 8 pick for Matthew Stafford before dealing the QB to the Rams for Goff and picks.

Bridgewater has only seen time on three offensive snaps in 2023, but his impact has gone beyond the playing field. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the veteran has been a positive influence on young offensive players like Jameson Williams and Hendon Hooker, and the Lions “have been pleased with his behind-scenes work.” The front office was also of the understanding that it’d be a short-term stop in Detroit for Bridgewater.

If Bridgewater doesn’t get into another game this season, he’ll finish his career having completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 15,120 yards, 75 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions. He went 33-32 in his 65 career starts.

NFC Rumors: Bucs, Lions, Panthers, Packers

August 25th, 2023 at 11:01pm CST by Ely Allen

The Buccaneers may be considered as a rebuilding squad, but that doesn’t matter much to the players fighting for roster spots in the late preseason. As the regular season inches nearer and nearer, two starting positions are starting to come into focus, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

On offense, center Ryan Jensen has not returned to practice as he continues to recover from three knee ligament tears that he opted not to have surgery on. In his absence, Robert Hainsey and Nick Leverett have been competing for the starting job. Hainsey likely has a bit of an edge after playing the position in college and starting all 17 games last season for Tampa Bay, but Leverett has meshed well in new offensive coordinator Dave Canales‘ new zone-blocking scheme. Even if Hainsey can’t hold onto the job, Leverett may keep the position competitive.

On defense, Dee Delaney has really stepped up at nickelback after the team opted to move Antoine Winfield Jr. back to free safety full-time. Delaney, who spent four years at The Citadel before transferring to Miami (FL) and going undrafted, has stuck in Tampa Bay, playing 32 games over the past two seasons while starting three of them. Delaney has had a great camp as reflected in a stellar performance in last week’s preseason game against the Jets. Undrafted rookie Christian Izien has also impressed with physical play throughout the preseason, while rookie sixth-round pick Josh Hayes has fallen a bit behind in the position battle.

Here are a few more roster battles to watch heading into the final weekend of preseason games this season:

Nate Sudfeld was viewed as a solid backup option at quarterback for the Lions last season. Coming into 2023, though, he may be struggling to retain a roster spot, according to Justin Rogers of The Detroit News. Obviously, Jared Goff has the starting job locked up, but recently signed veteran Teddy Bridgewater has made a strong case for the QB2 role behind him. Sudfeld still has value to the team, but head coach Dan Campbell made it clear that his roster status depends on if he adds more value to the team than depth at other positions on the roster. If CB5 or CB6 end up adding more value than Sudfeld as QB3, he may find himself missing out on the initial 53-man roster.
As starting guard Austin Corbett waits to be cleared following ACL surgery, the Panthers‘ situation at guard is feeling a bit precarious. A tweet from Joseph Person of The Athletic tells that a decision on the starting right guard job in Corbett’s absence has been delayed until the returns from injury of rookie fourth-round pick Chandler Zavala and undrafted rookie Nash Jensen. Head coach Frank Reich wanted both rookies to have a chance for the spot before making the decision. Zavala was recently activated from the physically unable to perform list and hasn’t seen much action. Jensen was impressing early in the offseason before a back injury slowed his progress. They’ll compete with Cade Mays and Justin McCray for the position, but Person believes that Carolina may pursue some added competition at roster cutdowns.
Last week, the Packers‘ seventh-round pick from last year, Rasheed Walker, got the starting call at left tackle ahead of usual backup Yosh Nijman, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Nijman has been the usual go-to at tackle when starter David Bakhtiari isn’t available, but Schneidman thinks that Walker may have worked his way past Nijman on the depth chart as of late.

NFC North Rumors: Tom, Bears, Vikes, Lions

August 16th, 2023 at 1:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

This offseason, Zach Tom loomed as a challenger for either the Packers‘ center or right tackle spots. While it is not known just yet where the second-year blocker will end up, it looks like his playing time will increase. Tom is going to end up starting, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic notes (subscription required). A fourth-round pick out of Wake Forest, Tom started five of the nine games he played last season and saw time at four of the five O-line positions (all but center). Tom did start at center for the Demon Deacons, however, playing there and at left tackle in college. Former second-round pick Josh Myers has been the Packers’ primary center over the past two seasons. Should Tom land at right tackle, Yosh Nijman — whom the team gave a second-round RFA tender this offseason — would be on track to be a backup.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

The Bears‘ running back race is still too early to call, but The Athletic’s Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain posit that Khalil Herbert is the current frontronner. David Montgomery‘s top backup last season, Herbert flashed when available. The former sixth-round pick averaged 5.7 yards per carry, helping the Bears lead the league in rushing. With Montgomery now in Detroit, the Bears have held a three-man competition — between Herbert, UFA pickup D’Onta Foreman and fourth-rounder Roschon Johnson — to replace him. Even if Herbert wins the starter gig, Chicago’s run-oriented attack will likely require regular workloads from multiple backs.
Veteran running back Mike Davis stopped through Minneapolis for a recent Vikings workout, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Minnesota, which is all set to complete a Dalvin Cook-to-Alexander Mattison transition, recently auditioned Kareem Hunt as well. Beyond Mattison, the Vikings roster Ty Chandler (2022, Round 5) and DeWayne McBride (2023, Round 7) as their top backfield options. Davis, 30, spent last season with the Ravens but did not carve out much playing time — even for a team reeling at running back. He fared better with the Panthers and Falcons in 2020 and 2021, respectively, combining for 1,145 rushing yards in that span.
Byron Murphy played a versatile role for the Cardinals, lining up in the slot and outside. The Vikings are planning to capitalize on Murphy’s slot experience, with ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert noting the free agency pickup will move inside when the team shifts to its nickel package. With nickel and dime sets now more common than base alignments, Murphy should be expected to see plenty of slot work in Minnesota.
A 2022 second-round pick, Andrew Booth has not made a strong case to move into the starting lineup alongside Murphy. The Clemson product is running Akayleb Evans, a 2022 fourth-rounder, along with Joejuan Williams and rookie third-rounder Mekhi Blackmon. Williams and Blackmon look to be competing for the CB3 role, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis adds, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling notes the rookie is believed to be ahead of the former Patriots second-rounder. Evans, who played 162 defensive snaps last season, has spent the most time with the first team of this group. The Vikings have rebooted at corner, letting both Patrick Peterson and slot Chandon Sullivan walk in free agency.
Danielle Hunter‘s reworked deal calls for a $20.95MM cap hit, and although this is now a contract year for the veteran defensive end, two void years remain on the deal (Twitter links via Goessling and ESPN’s Field Yates). Hunter’s $3MM in incentives are classified as not likely to be earned, per Goessling. The void years would leave the Vikings with a $14.9MM dead-money hit if they do not re-sign Hunter before the 2024 league year begins. Void years led to the Vikings taking a $7.5MM dead-money hit when Dalvin Tomlinson left in free agency this year.
While Teddy Bridgewater secured $2.5MM guaranteed from the Lions, GOPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer tweets the veteran QB’s Lions deal is worth $3MM in base value. The Lions used a void year, keeping the cap number at $2.66MM.

Lions To Sign QB Teddy Bridgewater

August 11th, 2023 at 8:40am CST by Sam Robinson

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.

Lions Audition QB Teddy Bridgewater

July 26th, 2023 at 9:47am CST by Sam Robinson

With Hendon Hooker looking at a potential injury redshirt of sorts, the Lions are considering a short-term upgrade behind Jared Goff. One of Dan Campbell‘s former Saints coworkers remains on the team’s radar.

The third-year Lions HC confirmed the team’s interest in Teddy Bridgewater, indicating the staff has kept tabs on the veteran quarterback this offseason. The Lions brought in Bridgewater for a workout recently, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

This comes after the Lions previously expressed confidence in their QB room as a whole. Nate Sudfeld is currently positioned as Goff’s top backup. But the Lions made Bridgewater a “strong offer” in April. Even after the recent praise of the signal-caller group, the Lions are still eyeing help here as they grapple with rising expectations.

“We’ve kept in touch with Teddy and we’ve kept Nate abreast of that, too,” Campbell said, via the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers. “We haven’t hidden anything (from him). So it went good. Gave us a chance to sit down with him face-to-face, particularly Ben (Johnson), Bru (QBs coach Mark Brunell) and Brad (Holmes). It gets me face-to-face with him again. Then just the medical (evaluation). So it was good. It was a good visit. We’ll see where it goes.”

Campbell was with the Saints during Bridgewater’s two-season tenure, which ran from 2018-19. The 30-year-old quarterback has since moved to Charlotte, Denver and Miami. He and Carson Wentz have long hovered as the top two QB2 options available, with each having extensive starting experience. Bridgewater has made 65 career starts and would certainly provide the Lions with a 2023 upgrade behind Goff.

“It doesn’t mean that Nate is out of anything if we go this route and it works out,” Campbell said of the Bridgewater visit. “You’ll feel good about whoever comes out of the fire will be the right guy to help you along the way. But yeah, you don’t want the wheels to fall off.”

This marks Bridgewater’s first known visit this year. He is coming off a forgettable season with the Dolphins. Bridgewater made two starts but suffered injuries in each game. He was unavailable to close Miami’s season, with a dislocated pinkie sidelining him for the Dolphins’ regular-season finale and their wild-card game against the Bills. Bridgewater, however, had the Broncos at 7-7 as their primary starter in 2021. One of those games involved a one-sided win over Campbell’s Lions. Bridgewater’s second concussion that season ended up sidelining him for the rest of the year, leading to three Drew Lock-led starts and the Broncos firing Vic Fangio. In 2020 with the Panthers, Bridgewater completed 69% of his passes and started 15 games.

Goff did not miss any games last season but missed three during the 2021 campaign. A seventh-year veteran, Sudfeld has never started an NFL game and has only appeared in six.

QB Teddy Bridgewater Drawing Interest, Lions Made “Strong Contract Offer”

April 8th, 2023 at 8:21am CST by Ben Levine

Teddy Bridgewater remains the top free agent quarterback left unsigned, but it sounds like his market is starting to heat up. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter), the veteran has drawn interest from several teams. This includes a “strong contract offer” from the Lions.

After starting 29 games for the Panthers and Broncos between 2020 and 2021, Bridgewater reverted to his standard backup role with the Dolphins in 2022. He started two of his five appearances while filling in for Tua Tagovailoa, losing both of his starts while tossing four touchdowns vs. four interceptions.

While the 30-year-old is coming off his weakest statistical season in years, it’s no surprise that teams are starting to line up for his services. He went 16-18 as a starter between 2019 and 2021, completing 68 percent of his passes for 8,169 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. Bridgewater has established himself as the top backup QB in the league, and his willingness to wait for a starting opportunity should afford him a few more contracts before he calls it a career.

Bridgewater would be a natural fit in Detroit; he’s familiar with Lions coach Dan Campbell from when the two were in New Orleans. Starter Jared Goff has been relatively healthy in recent years, never missing more than three starts in a season. Still, the 2023 campaign will mark Goff’s age-29 season and his eighth professional campaign, and following a surprising 9-8 season that saw them barely miss the playoffs, it’s not a huge surprise that the Lions would want some top-end insurance for their starting QB.

The Lions re-signed Nate Sudfeld earlier this offseason, but the 29-year-old profiles more as a third-string quarterback considering the 37 professional passing attempts on his resume.

Tua Tagovailoa To Miss Wild-Card Game

January 13th, 2023 at 11:06am CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 13: McDaniel confirmed it will again be Thompson at the controls. The seventh-round pick will make his third start of the season. Tagovailoa remains in concussion protocol, with McDaniel indicating (via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe, on Twitter) he has not advanced to the on-field activity stage of the protocol. The Dolphins have not ruled out Bridgewater as a backup option for Sunday’s Bills matchup.

JANUARY 11: The Dolphins will not have their starting quarterback in their wild-card matchup with the Bills, Mike McDaniel said Wednesday. Tua Tagovailoa has not been cleared for football activities yet.

This obviously represents a tough blow for the AFC’s No. 7 seed, but it was viewed as an uphill battle for Tagovailoa — who has suffered two confirmed concussions this season — to be cleared for Miami’s first-round game. Tua has not suffered any setbacks, per McDaniel, who said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) “compounding variables” are in play here. This likely refers to the third-year QB’s prior injuries this season. This will be the third straight game in which the Dolphins will not have their starter available, and it will be Tagovailoa’s fifth absence this season.

As of Wednesday, the Dolphins are preparing to give third-stringer Skylar Thompson another start. But McDaniel said (via Jackson, on Twitter) Teddy Bridgewater is working toward a return. A seventh-round rookie, Thompson has struggled — as could be expected — when called upon this season. Bridgewater, who suffered a dislocated pinkie in Week 17, has not finished either of the two games he started during his first Dolphins slate. It is unlikely Bridgewater will be able to practice much this week, McDaniel said.

The Dolphins qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2016. That team’s ensuing playoff game — a loss to the Steelers — involved a backup quarterback (Matt Moore). This will bring some familiar territory for Miami, which has not won a playoff game since the 2000 season. McDaniel’s Wednesday announcement, however, likely will allow Tua extensive time to recover before his fourth NFL campaign. His third presented his highest heights as a pro but also brought concerning injury developments.

Restoring some confidence after two uneven years to start his career, Tagovailoa finished the regular season third in QBR and led the Dolphins to eight of their nine wins. He also fared well in the Dolphins’ narrow loss to the Bills in Buffalo. But head injuries interrupted the Alabama product, who had aimed to return in time for a wild-card outing.

Tagovailoa displayed concussion-like symptoms in Week 3 against the Bills, and while the young southpaw returned to action shortly after that sequence, an NFLPA investigation into the Dolphins’ handling of that situation led to an overhaul of the NFL’s concussion protocol. Tagovailoa entered the protocol four days later, after being stretchered off the field in Cincinnati, and was again placed in the revised protocol a day after sustaining an unspotted concussion against Green Bay on Christmas Day.

Bridgewater, 30, would be the Dolphins’ best bet against the heavily favored Bills, but the veteran almost certainly will not be at 100% even if he does see action Sunday. Thompson completed 20 of 31 passes against the Jets’ tough pass defense, averaging just 4.9 yards per attempt. The Kansas State product has completed 57% of his throws this season.

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