Is Teddy Bridgewater Winning The QB Competition In Denver?

The Denver Broncos remain in flux over who is going to be their opening day starter at quarterback, but it appears one player is putting himself above the rest.

That player, according to Mike Klis of 9News, is Teddy Bridgewater, and Klis says that Broncos coach Vic Fangio appears close to naming Bridgewater the starter, making Drew Lock the team’s backup.

Teddy Bridgewater is GUNNING for that QB1 job 🎯 pic.twitter.com/j842sLp4oO

— PFF (@PFF) August 22, 2021

Bridgewater got a chance to play two series on Saturday and was impressive, leading the Broncos to a pair of touchdown drives against the Seattle Seahawks.

Teddy Bridgewater’s preseason line to date:

16-of-19 (84.2 pct.)
179 yards
9.42 YPA
2 TD passes
0 INT
Rating: 141.0

Drive results:

FG
TD
TD
TD

Points per possession: 6.0 (!)

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) August 22, 2021

Overall Bridgewater was 9-for-11 for 105 yards and a score. Fangio actually compared Bridgewater to Tom Brady in terms of being able to manipulate the pocket.

“There’s two types of elusive quarterbacks—ones that run around, and there’s the other ones that manipulate the pocket to buy time,” Fangio said.

“The best of that in the past 20 years has been Tom Brady, and [Bridgewater’s] got a little of that in him, as far as manipulating the pocket.”

In some regard, the team has to be a bit disappointed if they are basically forced to go with Bridgewater, as Lock is getting closer to being a long-term bust – yet another for the Broncos at the quarterback spot.

Lock was a high-profile second-round pick in 2019. He just hasn’t been the player the Broncos want to see at quarterback, but maybe Bridgewater’s play will light a fire under him and he’ll work his way into the starter role.

While not official, Bridgewater has the edge for now, and it feels like he’ll be under center on September 12th at 4:25 EST against the New York Giants on FOX.