Once upon a time, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes proposed a level of emphasis on the No. 2 quarterback spot. His definition of emphasis surely doesn't pass the smell test since he said that, but starter Jared Goff has not missed a game since 2021, so it hasn't mattered.
This offseason, after Kyle Allen signed with the Buffalo Bills, the Lions brought Teddy Bridgewater back for a third stint with the team. Undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer could make a serious push for a roster spot during training camp, if not the QB2 spot if a legit competition is allowed, but Bridgewater's experience is highly valued.
Of course, a big issue is that if something were to happen to Goff, Bridgewater has 16 total pass attempts since the 2022 season. Count that 2022 season, when he made five appearances and started two games for the Miami Dolphins, and that number "swells" to 95 pass attempts over the last four seasons.
No team easily survives the absence of its starting quarterback, but the drop-off from Goff to Bridgewater is as dramatic as any from starter to backup in the league. No apparent effort to narrow that gap has the Lions walking a tightrope, with fingers crossed that Goff remains durable for the entirety of an important season.
On a recent edition of The Insiders, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo offered any team that may be looking to improve their backup quarterback situation another option: Jimmy Garoppolo.
Lions must pursue easy opportunity to replace Teddy Bridgewater with Jimmy Garoppolo
Previous reporting indicated that Garoppolo, a free agent who turns 35 in November, was mulling retirement. He is suddenly interested in continuing his pro career if an opportunity presents itself, per Garafolo, and Detroit makes for an intriguing potential landing spot.
"In the right situation, [Garoppolo] will come back, and he will play football," Garafolo stated. He has not decided to retire. He just needed some time to himself this offseason."
Garafolo added that he "doesn't think anything is imminent" regarding Garoppolo signing with a team. It may take an injury to open up a chance to slot in as a veteran backup, or even the starter, for someone.
But after weighing retirement this offseason, Jimmy G is not ready to hang up the cleats, which ought to have the Lions' attention.
Garoppolo has not played a lot lately himself, with four appearances and 41 pass attempts over the last two seasons as Matthew Stafford's understudy with the Los Angeles Rams. But he did start six games for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, for whatever it's worth, and at nearly every point beforehand, he was a measurably better quarterback than Bridgewater.
If Garoppolo is going to sign anywhere, contending teams are surely at the top of the list. With that, being a backup somewhere would be virtually automatic. In the case of the Lions (if he had to play), he would simply have to be a proverbial point guard to a loaded set of skill position players, like he was at his best with the San Francisco 49ers.
The chance for Garoppolo to become the Lions' No. 2 quarterback also wouldn't require an injury, if that's something he's waiting for to open up an opportunity. The Lions simply need to have the desire to consider another option, and the willingness to give up on the idea that Bridgewater could capably step in if he had to. Neither of those things should be difficult.
Outside of a return to the Rams, the "right situation" for Garoppolo could very well be in Detroit. But it takes two to tango. Unless or until the Lions take their Bridgewater blinders off, the idea of another veteran QB2 option is purely hypothetical.
Add us as a preferred source on Google