Reports: Detroit Lions to sign Teddy Bridgewater

Their interest started with a reported “strong offer” in early April. It was rekindled in late July, with a visit.

On Monday, according to multiple reports, the Detroit Lions are going to sign free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Terms of the deal have not been reported yet, but let’s assume it’s a one-year pact.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes promised emphasis on the No. 2 quarterback at the outset of the offseason. That yielded re-signing Nate Sudfeld, and the aforementioned interest in Bridgewater as the only things of note.

Sudfeld had a rough practice last Saturday, further exposing Holmes' failure to deliver on his promise of emphasis on the spot on the depth chart behind Jared Goff. The move to sign Bridgewater two days later is surely not a coincidence.

Dan Campbell has history with Bridgewater from their shared time with the New Orleans Saints, and the Lions head coach has not been shy with conveying his respect.

Before the Lions played the Bridgewater-led Broncos in 2021, here's what Campbell said.

"I’ve got a lot of respect for Teddy Bridgewater because I think he’s a winner in this league,” Campbell said at the time. “Man, he’ll hurt you in play-action pass. He’s going to be smart with the football.”""

Bridgewater was the best backup quarterback available. He is 33-32 in 65 career starts, though he's just 11-20 as a starter over the last three seasons for three different teams. Counting a brief stint with the New York Jets where he never played a game before being traded to the Saints, the Lions will be his seventh NFL team.

Bridgewater now the obvious favorite to be Goff's backup, of course displacing Sudfeld. The corresponding move to make room on the roster for Bridgewater, presumably to made official Tuesday before the first joint practice against the Giants, may very well be to cut Sudfeld,