Teddy Bridgewater will start his first game for the Miami Dolphins this Sunday against the New York Jets, and he’ll look to harness the mojo he had in 2019 with the New Orleans Saints when he filled in for starting quarterback Drew Brees for five games and posted a 5-0 record.
Bridgewater parlayed that success into starting roles with both the Carolina Panthers (2020) and Denver Broncos (2021). The results weren’t good enough at those stops to convince teams to put more resources into the former first-round draft pick, as he finished the past two seasons with a combined record of 11-18.
The Dolphins didn’t sign Bridgewater because of the struggles from the past two seasons, however. Instead, he was brought in because of the potential shown during his time with the Saints, where he was surrounded by as much talent as he has now with the Dolphins.
Following Tua Tagovailoa’s frightening injury last Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals, Bridgewater came in and served as a calming influence as he marched the team on a touchdown drive right before halftime. The team wound up losing to the Bengals, and Bridgewater’s stats didn’t jump off the page. He finished the game 14-25 for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Yet given a full week to prepare as the team’s starter (and the team’s stockpile of offensive artillery), there is reason for optimism that Bridgewater will be able to replicate his 2018 form.
Bridgewater began his career with the Minnesota Vikings and was on his way to solidifying himself as the organization’s franchise quarterback before he suffered a gruesome leg injury prior to the 2016 season. After a lengthy rehabilitation process, he signed with the New York Jets in the 2018 offseason, and they eventually traded him to the Saints before the start of that season.
The relationship was mutually beneficial, with the Saints giving Bridgewater a platform to show he was fully healed from his injury and the quarterback keeping the Saints from going under during Brees’ absence. During the 2019 season, Bridgewater completed 67.9% of his passes, going 133-for-196 with nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
He is thrust into a similar spot with the Dolphins, albeit with more uncertainty as to when or if Tagovailoa will suit up again this season.
The Dolphins knew this was a possibility when they went out and signed Bridgewater in the offseason. While a backup quarterback taking over for the team’s preferred starter is never an ideal situation, Bridgewater has been here before. The seas are choppy, but Bridgewater is in a good position to keep the Dolphins afloat.
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