Nate Sudfeld responds the only way he can to the Lions' interest in Teddy Bridgewater

As the Detroit Lions moved into the offseason, surely headed for a 2023 season where expectations would be high, general manager Brad Holmes all but promised an emphasis on the No. 2 quarterback spot behind Jared Goff.

That "emphasis" yielded re-signing Nate Sudfeld, and a reported strong contract offer to Teddy Bridgewater in early April. It's fair to assume there was interest in others. But so much for emphasizing a spot that could derail a season with high expectations if Goff were to go down with an injury.

This week, the Lions rekindled their interest in Bridgewater with a visit on Monday. It's abundantly clear how head coach Dan Campbell feels about Bridgewater, who he spent two seasons with in New Orleans when he was an assistant coach. That a signing has not happened feels like it's not due to any hesitancy from the Lions' end. So a different backup quarterback pivot may be required, if one is made to compete with or replace Sudfeld.

Nate Sudfeld responds to Lions' interest in Teddy Bridgewater in only way he can

Sudfeld is entering his eighth NFL season, with little regular season action on his resume. He experienced a reality of the business late last preseason when the San Francisco 49ers released him. He landed quickly with the Lions, as they cleaned out their depth chart behind Goff.

By all accounts Sudfeld had a very good offseason. In regard to the Lions' apparent lingering and now resurfaced interest in Bridgewater, via Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News, Sudfeld said the only thing he can say in his situation.

""If I've learned anything in this league, (it's that) nobody owes you anything," Sudfeld said. "You can feel like you've earned (something), or you can feel like you're doing well, but that means absolutely nothing, and none of it is personal."

- Nate Sudfeld

Sudfeld has felt ripe to be replaced, or at least have some notable competition added around him, from the moment the Lions' re-signed him in what seemed to be something of an "if all else fails" move.

Sudfeld is lined up to play plenty in the preseason. He'll have to perform well, or he will be replaced as Goff's backup--by someone, even if it's not Bridgewater.