Ex-Jets QB Jumps Ship and Signs With AFC Rival: Report

Getty Ex-New York Jets quarterback Teddy Bridgewater throwing a pass during an NFL preseason game versus the New York Giants.

A familiar face to New York Jets fans was back in the news this week.

Former quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be returning to the AFC East, but this time with the Miami Dolphins.

Adam Schefter of ESPN was first to share the news that the veteran was signing a one-year deal to join the Dolphins.

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A Blast From the Past

Bridgewater is on his sixth team in six years and some may have forgotten that includes a stint with the Jets.

Back in 2016 the veteran passer suffered a gruesome injury in practice where he tore his ACL, dislocate his knee joint, and suffered other ligament damage.

Some questioned if he would ever walk again, let alone play football.

Yet despite those long odds, the former first-round quarterback fought back and the Jets are the team that gave him his first chance after the Minnesota Vikings moved on.

Bridgewater signed with Gang Green on March 18 and was with the team through the summer before he was flipped to the New Orleans Saints on August 29 for a 2019 third-round draft choice.

After moving on Bridgewater has traveled around the league with the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and now most recently with the Dolphins.

The cool thing about his latest stop is it will be a homecoming of sorts.

The 29-year-old was born and raised in Miami. Although he will be the backup quarterback to Tua Tagovailoa this will not be an open competition in any shape or form.

In his eight-year career thus far, Bridgewater has put up some very respectable numbers:

• 14,437 yards
• 71 touchdowns to 43 interceptions
• Also has contributed 11 rushing touchdowns

Keep an Eye out for This

Speaking of backup quarterbacks, the Jets don’t currently have one.

The only passer that is signed through 2022 is Zach Wilson, his two backups from last season are pending free agents.

Mike White is a restricted free agent that Gang Green hopes to bring back into the fold. While Joe Flacco is an unrestricted free agent and is allowed to sign with any other team that he chooses.

Although there is mutual interest between the two sides to get something done. The front office has made it abundantly clear to Flacco and his camp that they’d like him back as the primary No. 2.

Unfortunately, Wilson during his rookie campaign suffered a PCL strain that forced him to miss four games of action. Heading into the NFL draft process a lot of people raised concern about his durability and somewhat slender figure.

Now heading into year No. 2, bulking up has been a big point of emphasis for Wilson this offseason. Even with that, the Jets front office has to hope for the best and expect the worst.

The best possible example one could you is tornado insurance. If you buy it, you hope you never have to use it, but it is there just in case of an emergency.

That is exactly what a backup quarterback is. Regardless of how experienced or talented they’re, no one wants to see them in the game because if they do it’s because your quarterback is struggling or he is hurt.

Keep an eye out on this one to see where the Jets pivot at backup quarterback if they’re unable to come to an agreement with one of their reserves.

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