Lions QB Teddy Bridgewater trying out bizarre uniform number
Detroit Lions backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is trying out a very unusual uniform number this preseason.
He won't be able to keep it once the regular season begins though.
Bridgewater signed with the Lions last week to serve as the understudy to three-time Pro Bowler Jared Goff.
Since being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and spending four years with the franchise (making his lone Pro Bowl in 2015), Bridgewater has been somewhat of a journeyman, seeing time as both a starter and a second-stringer.
The Louisville product was with the New Orleans Saints in 2018 and 2019, the Carolina Panthers in 2020, the Denver Broncos in 2021 and the Miami Dolphins in 2022.
As noted by Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, NFL rules allow signal-callers to only wear jerseys with numbers 0 to 19, so once Week 1 rolls along, Bridgewater will have to find a different digit. Furthermore, even though every number between 0 and 19 (except No. 7, which is retired for Dutch Clark) is currently being used, something is expected to open up for Bridgewater to grab.
This will come by way of roster cuts, as Florio notes that between fellow quarterbacks Nate Sudfield (No. 10) and Adrian Martinez (18), "one of those numbers will be available."
Per the 2023 NFL rule book, offensive and defensive linemen are permitted to wear jersey numbers 50 to 79. Listed at 6-foot-2, 215 lbs., Bridgewater would probably have to bulk up a bit to be able to pass for a lineman.
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