The New Orleans Saints are yet to name the winner of their offseason QB battle, but one of their former players got good news in his own battle for a starting job.
The Denver Broncos announced Wednesday that Teddy Bridgewater has been named the starter, beating out incumbent Drew Lock for the job.
Bridgewater has impressed throughout camp and through two games of preseason action just months removed from a trade then sent him to Denver from Carolina. That trade, prompted by the Panthers' acquisition of Sam Darnold from the Jets, spelled the end of Bridgewater's run as the starter in Carolina after signing a 3-year, $63 million deal before the 2020 season. The Panthers agreed to pay a good portion of Bridgewater's remaining salary in the deal with the Broncos.
Lock, 24, is 8-10 as a starter over two seasons with Denver after he was selected in the second round of the 2019 draft.
The 28-year-old Bridgewater struggled to a 4-11 record as the Panthers' starter, though he did so without the services of star running back Christian McCaffrey for much of the season. Bridgewater was a member of the Saints for two seasons after arriving via trade, also prompted by Darnold's arrival to his team, and served as Brees' backup. He earned folk hero status in New Orleans while leading the team to five consecutive wins as Brees recovered from a thumb injury suffered in Week 2 of the 2019 season.
Chants of "Ted-dy, Ted-dy, Ted-dy" were common at the Superdome throughout the season, even after Brees returned from his injury.
Bridgewater's exit in free agency opened up a backup role with the Saints that was taken by Jameis Winston, who is currently battling Taysom Hill for the starting job in New Orleans after Brees' retirement.
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