Lions QB Teddy Bridgewater temporarily wearing No. 50 for preseason

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If you check out the Lions and look for Teddy Bridgewater, Detroit’s newly-acquired quarterback, you might wonder if you’re checking out the right player.

Usually, quarterbacks don’t wear the No. 50, or any other number close to that. But this preseason is a unique situation. The league requires that quarterbacks wear any number between 0 and 19. And the Lions already have players wearing every one of those numbers. That is, except for No. 7. The Lions retired it to honor Dutch Clark. He’s the star from the 1930s who was a member of both the inaugural classes of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Ever hear of the Flying Dutchman? Well, that was Clark.

By the time the Lions get to their regular season roster, at least one of the numbers should be free for Teddy Bridgewater to wear. And remember, this year each NFL team only has to make one mandatory cut deadline. So circle Aug. 29. That’s when teams trim to 53. Bridgewater usually wears No. 5. But newly signed running back David Montgomery currently is 5.

The Lions signed Teddy Bridgewater, the one-time Pro Bowler, last week. His most recent assignment was backing up Tua Tagovailoa with the Dolphins. The 30-year-old, who got to the NFL as a first-round selection in 2014, has started games for the Vikings, Broncos, Panthers, Saints and Dolphins. And that sort of experience makes him the perfect veteran backup.

Teddy Bridgewater spent last season with the Dolphins, backing up Tua Tagovailoa. He played in five games, starting two after Tagovailoa suffered a concussion. (Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports)

Detroit didn’t add Bridgewater, the former Louisville Cardinals star, to be their starter. Rather, he’ll likely be QB2 to Jared Goff. The Lions didn’t sign him in time last week for him to be ready for their preseason opener. However, he was on the sidelines. He began practicing, Monday.

Bridgewater’s deal is only for one year. But in his first interview as a Detroit Lion, he said he was attracted by the team’s talent.

“Honestly, I just think with the talent on his team, the starters on his team, the experience on this team,” Bridgewater told reporters after he signed with the Lions. “It just felt like a great situation for me to just come in and honestly just be a mentor to some of the younger guys, teach them how to be pros, while also fine-tuning my game.

Plus, the city is all abuzz about the start of the NFL season. The Lions sold out all season tickets at Ford Field for the first time in the stadium’s existence.

So bring on Teddy Bridgewater, whether he wears 50 or any other number.