Report: Lions Sign Former Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It might have come well after the start of training camp, but Teddy Bridgewater has finally found his new home.

The 30-year-old quarterback and former Louisville football star has signed a deal with the Detroit Lions, according NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Despite Detroit spending a third-round draft pick on Hendon Hooker back in April's NFL Draft, Bridgewater is expected to serve as the Lions primary backup to Jared Goff in 2023 as Hooker continues to rehab a torn ACL suffered last November while at Tennessee.

Bridgewater spent the the 2022 season in his hometown of Miami with the Dolphins, also in a backup role to Tua Tagovailoa. Like Tagovailoa, Bridgewater himself suffered a myriad of injuries in 2022, such as an elbow injury and concussion in week five against the Jets, a chronic knee injury through mid-November to early/mid-December, and a dislocated pinky sustained in week 17 at the Patriots. He made just five appearances and two starts last season, completing 62.0 percent of his passes for 683 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.

The former first round draft is now on his sixth team since entering the league in 2014. He spent the first four seasons of his professional career with the Minnesota Vikings, followed by two years with the New Orleans Saints as a backup to Drew Brees. Since then, he has played for a different franchise in each of the last three seasons: the Carolina Panthers in 2020, the Denver Broncos in 2021, and Miami in 2022.

In 78 career games and 53 starts, the Miami native has completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 15,120 yards and 75 touchdowns to 47 interceptions.

Bridgewater is one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the Louisville football program. In 39 career games with the Cardinals from 2011 to 2013, he completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 9,817 yards and 72 touchdowns to just 24 interceptions. He led the UofL to a 30-9 record, including wins in the Sugar Bowl over Florida his sophomore year and in the Russell Athletic Bowl against Miami as a junior.

(Photo of Teddy Bridgewater: Brian Fluharty - USA TODAY Sports)

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