Earlier this month, former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater revealed that he wanted to return to the NFL this season following his unexpected retirement after the 2023 campaign. Well, with two games left in the 2024 regular season, the Detroit Lions are going to give Bridgewater what he has been hoping for recently.
According to to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport on Thursday, the Lions are expected to sign the former Vikings signal-caller. Bridgewater spent the 2023 season with Detroit, and he appeared in one game.
This will be his 10th year in the NFL, which is pretty incredible considering how many thought his career was going to be over after suffering a severe knee injury in 2016.
Detroit Lions explain why they are bringing back former Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater
While the Bridgewater signing wasn't official yet at the time of his press conference on Thursday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell shared why the team decided to add him back to the roster at this point in the season.
" just brings a level of professionalism. Veteran presence, somebody that's great for our team. He's great for the position.
...This gives us a guy that's played a lot in the NFL. We're getting ready for the playoffs and so it'll be good to get him back in the fold with us."
Bridgewater originally entered the league when Minnesota selected him with the No. 32 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. The Vikings drafted him with the hope that he would become the franchise's next great quarterback, but a severe knee injury in 2016 quickly crushed those dreams.
Despite not being able to develop into a franchise signal-caller for Minnesota, Bridgewater has still been able to prove a lot of people wrong by continuing to make a living in the NFL for more than a handful of years.
During his time in the league, he has had stints with the Vikings, Lions, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and Miami Dolphins.