Broncos Make It Official: Bridgewater Named Opening Day Starter

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It was a move that most saw coming, and on Wednesday, the Denver Broncos made it official. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be the team's starter to begin 2021.

Head coach Vic Fangio told the team the news Wednesday morning. Bridgewater's first game will be against the New York Giants at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey on September 12th.

Bridgewater beat out former Broncos draft pick Drew Lock, who will be the backup for the Broncos when the season kicks off.

This preseason, Bridgewater has been sensational. He has gone 16-for-19 for 179 yards with two touchdown passes and no picks. His QB rating is 141.0. In four drives under center, he led the Broncos to four scores -- a field goal and three touchdowns.

Last season, Bridgewater played for the Carolina Panthers, throwing 15 touchdowns and 11 picks with a quarterback rating of 92.1.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Bridgewater with the 32nd pick in the first-round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He then suffered a tear to his ACL and other structural damage during a late training camp practice in 2016.

The following season, he played backup for the New York Jets, and then in August of 2018, he was dealt to the New Orleans Saints for a 2019 sixth-round draft pick and a 2019 third-round draft pick.

Now he'll have his shot to make another impact with a new team, and it all starts with his matchup with the Giants in a few weeks.













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Matt has been a part of the Cleveland Sports landscape working in the media since 1994 when he graduated from broadcasting school. His coverage beats include the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers. He's written three books, and won the "2020 AP Sports Stringer Lifetime Service Award."