Ex-Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater signs with heavyweight NFC contender

On By Littum

The toughest NFC team we’ve seen play this season is the Detroit Lions, and with respect to the Philadelphia Eagles and other conference participants, they’re head and shoulders above the rest of the competition. However, the Lions aren’t afraid to add more help as they prepare to make their playoff run, and they’ll be joined by a former Carolina Panthers quarterback.

According to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL NetworkTeddy Bridgewater is expected to sign with the Lions. Bridgewater is fresh off coaching his former high school football team in Florida for a state championship.

This won’t be Bridgewater’s first go-round with Detroit. Teddy spent some time with the Lions during the 2023 season, but only appeared in one game. Prior to that, Bridgewater had pitched one season each in Miami and Denver after leaving Carolina following the 2020 NFL season.

Bridgewater had signed one three-year, $63 million deal with the Panthers after going 5-0 with the New Orleans Saints the previous season when Drew Brees was injured. That contract aged pretty badly as Bridgewater went 4-11 as Carolina’s QB1. David Tepper quickly pulled the plug and tried to start over by trading for Sam Darnold, which also failed.

Bridgewater got his start in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings after being selected in the first round of the draft out of Louisville. Overall, he has gone 33-32 as a starter at this level. In Detroit, he will back up starter Jared Goff, likely ahead of Hendon Hooker on the depth chart.

The Lions look tough as the regular season winds down, but they’ve also been hit by injuries more than any other team this year, especially on defense. Just a little more luck in that department could be enough to give them their first Super Bowl win.

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