Teddy Bridgewater’s surprising NFL comeback, following a stint as a high school coach, led to the loss of a roster spot for former Alabama standout Kwon Alexander with the Detroit Lions.
Bridgewater, who spent the season as the head coach at Miami Northwestern, guided the team to a Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A state championship. On Thursday, he joined the Lions for a practice session. To make room for Bridgewater, the Lions waived linebacker Kwon Alexander, a former Oxford High School star.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell explained that he had been in touch with Bridgewater for some time, considering his potential return. “Teddy’s been doing great work giving back to his community, and his coaching debut was a success. But having him back here with his experience, staying in shape, and staying sharp adds professionalism and a veteran presence to our team,” Campbell said.
Bridgewater now joins Jared Goff and Hendon Hooker as the quarterbacks on Detroit’s active roster. Bridgewater played just three snaps in his 10th NFL season in 2023, serving as Goff’s backup.
With a 13-2 record and two regular-season games left, the Lions have secured a playoff spot and are tied with the Minnesota Vikings for the best record in the NFC. Detroit will face the Vikings in their final regular-season game and will play the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship Game.
Alexander, who joined the Lions from the Denver Broncos’ practice squad on November 29, started the first two games he played for Detroit, totaling 29 defensive snaps. However, he was inactive for the Lions’ most recent game. Alexander had also played three games for the Broncos, logging 65 defensive snaps in his 10th NFL season.
