One man’s absence is another man’s gain.
With rookie Sam Darnold not on the field Friday as the Jets opened up training camp, Teddy Bridgewater was happy to get more reps. For the quarterback, who has attempted just two passes in the regular season since a horrific knee injury in 2016, any extra work is appreciated.
“For Josh [McCown] and I, it’s great work for us,” Bridgewater said. “We get to compete against our defense. We get to go out there and continue to stack those victories with each rep. Each rep is more and more important for us, especially being a quarterback. I just look forward to it right now and taking advantage of it.”
The 25-year-old began camp with an outside shot to win the starting job, battling the veteran incumbent McCown and Darnold, whenever the No. 3 pick signs his contract and arrives in Florham Park.
In order for that to happen, Bridgewater must prove he is fully healthy. He is only two years removed from dislocating his knee, tearing his ACL and suffering other structural damage from a non-contact injury during a Vikings practice in August 2016.
Bridgewater was coming off a Pro Bowl season — completing 65.3 percent of his passes, throwing for 3,231 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushing for three more — but has spent every day since trying to get back to that level of play.
“It’s been a journey. It’s been a fun journey coming back from my injury a couple years ago,” said Bridgewater, who made an emotional return to the field last season for one game with the Vikings before signing a one-year contract with the Jets in March. “I’m excited to be where I am today and I continue to look forward to the days ahead.”
Bridgewater finished an up-and-down practice Friday with his best play of the day, hitting ArDarius Stewart in stride 40 yards down the left sideline. He appeared to be moving around well, though he will face his biggest test once the pads come on.
“I feel pretty good,” Bridgewater said. “I don’t know if it’s the best I’ve felt. I don’t know how to really answer that because I feel good every day. I’m alive. Knowing that I’m here, that’s a great feeling. Knowing that we can do something special, that’s a great feeling. I’m excited and I’m looking forward to these next couple of weeks of training camp.”
