Teddy Bridgewater steps away from Lions, leaving question at backup QB

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) 鈥� Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has stepped away from football.

鈥淗is biggest worry was letting us down, that鈥檚 the type of guy he is,” Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said Sunday, when Bridgewater was placed on the reserve/retired list.

The 33-year-old journeyman had signed a one-year deal with the Lions in March after . He also spent 2023 and part of 2024 with Detroit.

鈥淪o I鈥檝e known Teddy a long time. As a human being he is unbelievable. Certainly as a player, everything that he鈥檚 about, the type of teammate he is, the way he prepares. He always played the game up here,” an emotional Campbell said, pointing to his head. 鈥淗e had a huge heart. He鈥檚 going to be missed.”

Campbell, who was assistant head coach with the New Orleans Saints when Bridgewater played there in 2018 and 2019, has maintained a close relationship with the quarterback.

鈥淚鈥檒l never forget 2019 when Drew (Brees) got injured. We鈥檇 just gone out to the Rams, got beat out there and Drew got his thumb and we lost him for five weeks,” Campbell said. 鈥淭eddy stepped in and we won five in a row. That was Teddy. His time being with us meant a lot, and it meant a lot to our guys. He鈥檚 going to be missed.”

Bridgewater had been signed to back up Jared Goff. Undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer, the only other QB on the Lions roster, had been getting more reps in training camp earlier this week when Bridgewater was absent, and again on Sunday.

鈥淚 thought he did some really good things,” Campbell said. 鈥淗e was put in some tough positions for a young player that you absolutely have to be put in, you just do, you鈥檝e got to be thrust in, you need to fail, you need to make mistakes so you can grow and we thought he handled it really well.鈥�

Altmyer said he has learned so much from Bridgewater.

鈥淚t was a joy to spend some time with him, but it brings about opportunity for myself, and the standard is to play good football no matter how many reps and or whatever my role is, I have a job to do and my job is to do that very, very well at a high level,” Altmyer said. 鈥淚鈥檓 thankful. I believe in my abilities and I鈥檓 going to go cut it loose whatever that looks like for me.鈥欌€�

The Lions plan to sign a veteran quarterback as soon as Monday.

Campbell said Goff will not play in the preseason game Thursday in Cincinnati.

鈥淐ertainly Altmyer will take a heavy load and anybody else we get we鈥檒l get them up to speed as fast as we can and give them some reps,” Campbell said.

Bridgewater was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014 and started 28 games his first two seasons. Before the 2016 season he tore his ACL and suffered more structural knee damage that kept him out of action into the 2017 season. Bridgewater also played for the Dolphins, Broncos, Panthers and Jets.

In 2024, before he re-signed with the Lions in December, , his alma mater, to the Florida Class 3A state championship. But he was suspended for the 2025 season after for meals, ride-share services and treatments for some players.

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