>Teddy Bridgewater can’t help but smile these days.Even
through the sweat and exhaustion that mark the blazing hot days of training
camp
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appreciates the little things about being a professional football player.Because
he almost wasn’t anymore.“I get excited every day I get to get my ankles taped,
lace my cleats up and run out of the locker room and practice because it was
taken away from me for two years,” Bridgewater said after a recent practice.“To
be able to just wake up and know you have the opportunity to continue to do
something that you love doing, it’s a great feeling.”Bridgewater has the type of
perspective few players ever get, or want to get, for that matter. He was able
to come back from the type of injury that would end most playing careers.But
when the Jets open their preseason schedule Friday night against the Atlanta
Falcons, Bridgewater will step on the field 鈥?and probably smile some more.And
then, he’ll get under center for what will likely be his most extensive game
action in almost two years.“Right now, I am doing everything I dreamed of doing
and that is waking up and continuing to play football,” Bridgewater said. “It’s
a wonderful feeling. It gives me the chills right now just thinking about it,
knowing how the previous two years were. But you take advantage of this
opportunity. I look forward to every day.“Some people may say, ‘This is training
camp. This is the grind of things, and I can’t wait to get to the regular
season, things will be easier,” but I look forward to it. You embrace the grind
because it was once taken from you.”On Aug. 30, 2016, the former Louisville star
was practicing with the Minnesota Vikings when he went down with a non-contact
injury. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and dislocated
the knee joint
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the team training staff and doctors saved Bridgewater’s leg.Playing football
again didn’t seem likely, given the severity of the injury. But Bridgewater
never gave up believing in a big-time comeback.“Never, never,” he said. “I had
nothing but positive thoughts. I didn’t allow any negativity to even creep into
my circle. I knew that if I’m negative, I’m going to have those negative
thoughts and it may hinder my progress.”So, Bridgewater approached his recovery
and arduous rehabilitation with the same type of determination.He learned to
move his leg again. And walk. Then, jog. And, now, run.Bridgewater gradually
regained strength in his knee and trusted that it would hold up when he dropped
back to throw a pass.On Dec. 17, 2017 鈥?nearly 16 months after he went down in a
heap of pain and uncertainty 鈥?Bridgewater walked onto the field at U.S. Bank
Stadium in Minneapolis in the fourth quarter against Cincinnati. The fans gave
him a standing ovation, and he went on to throw two passes in the Vikings’ 34-7
win, including one that was intercepted.The stats didn’t matter. He had made it
back.Just as he always believed.“I definitely feel like I’m good,” Bridgewater
said of his health. “I’ve been working with the training staff here and we’ve
been hitting it hard, and I’m excited. I’m looking forward to these upcoming
preseason games and just getting out there and having fun playing football
again.”The Vikings moved on from Bridgewater during the offseason and allowed
him to become a free agent. The Jets, with uncertainty at the quarterback
position, signed him to a one-year deal.The also brought back Josh McCown, the
incumbent starter
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pick out of USC who is considered the future of the franchise. Having them on
the field with Bridgewater this summer has made for an intriguing quarterback
competition.“He has been a great team player, great in the meeting room and for
the guys as well,” coach Todd Bowles said of Bridgewater. “I’ve got to say, this
is the best three-quarterback combination room I’ve been around from a mental
standpoint, so that is great to have.”McCown is No. 1 on the depth chart,
followed by Bridgewater and Darnold, and all three have had up-and-down moments
on the field this summer. Off the field, all three quarterbacks have repeatedly
talked about the camaraderie they have quickly established. And, there’s a ton
of respect for Bridgewater willing himself to even get back to this
point.“Obviously, he’s had a long road recovery-wise from his knee, but his mind
has been on football,” McCown said. “You can tell he’s sharp and I’ve been
really impressed with everything he’s done. I think the future is really bright
for Teddy. I’m excited for him.”Bridgewater has been checking off milestones for
most of the past 24 months. He’s not sure how long he’ll play Friday night, but
whatever he does will be another positive.The next goal on his list, though, is
yet to be determined.“I have to sit down and think about the next milestone,”
Bridgewater said. “But for now
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and taking advantage of it.”
The Arizona Diamondbacks open a four-game series Thursday against the
Pittsburgh Pirates, and by the time they move on to Miami, their rotation could
look different. As in, more intact.
Right-hander Zack Godley (7-5, 4.77 ERA) is scheduled to face Pittsburgh
righty Ivan Nova (4-5, 4.42) in the opener and, in fact, the Diamondbacks
(40-33) have starters penciled in all four games against the Pirates
(36-37).
But starters Shelby Miller (Tommy John surgery) and Robbie Ray (strained
right oblique) appear close to returning, particularly Miller.
“He’s getting close,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said of Miller.
“With these outings and the feedback he’s giving us, he’s telling us that he’s
getting closer every day.”
One possibility is that Miller will replace Matt Koch, who allowed five runs
in 5 2/3 innings Wednesday in a 5-4 loss against the Angels.
“Yet to be determined,” Lovullo said. “We’re going to huddle up and have some
conversations … and figure out what the next course of action.”
In the meantime, Godley is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA over his past two starts. That
includes a 7-3 win Friday against the New York Mets when he gave up two runs in
6 2/3 innings.
“I had to fight through myself pretty much for the first three innings and
then after that kind of settled in a little bit and got some quick outs and was
able to go deep into the game,” Godley said. “I was just kind of fighting myself
body-wise, just kind of not finishing some of my pitches and leaving some up and
in on righties and up and away on lefties.”
Getting through that impressed Lovullo.
“He’s battling himself Youth
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that game. “He can’t duplicate pitches, and he just made some key pitches at the
right time. … So, when you see things like that when a guy doesn’t have his best
stuff, that’s what sticks out for me. Pretty impressive.”
Godley is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two appearances, one start, against
Pittsburgh.
The Diamondbacks, who were off Wednesday, have won eight of their past 12
games. That includes taking two of three last week when the Pirates visited
Chase Field.
Pittsburgh last lost two home games in a row against Arizona but had won six
in a row before that.
The Pirates have won four of six after getting an impromptu day off Wednesday
— their game against Milwaukee was postponed after a rain delay of more than two
hours.
Nova, like Godley, is coming off two good starts, going 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA
since he came off the disabled list (sprained finger).
On Saturday, he struggled with his curveball but it didn’t stop him from
allowing just one run and five hits in six innings in a 6-2 win over
Cincinnati.
“Even though I walked a couple guys, the fastball command is better than what
it was before I hit the DL,” Nova said. “I think I’ve been able to control it a
bit better. I think that’s been the key.”
Nova is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in three career starts against the
Diamondbacks.
Pittsburgh will be without starting left fielder Corey Dickerson for at least
the start of the series. He is on family leave.
.
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