New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will make his first start since the 2015 NFL season in Sunday's clash against the Carolina Panthers.
The Saints have already locked up home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs heading into their final regular-season game.
Saints head coach Sean Payton told reporters Friday that Bridgewater will start in week 17ahead of star Drew Brees, who will be rested before the postseason.
"We're going to be smart and yet our message all week is this is a chance for us to get a 14th win which has never been done before, but I'm not going to go through the whole line-up. Bridgewater will start as quarterback and let's just leave it at that," Payton said.
"He's had a good week of preparation and he's throwing really well, so it will be good to get a chance to look at him."
Teddy Bridgewater excited for the opportunity to start for #Saints on Sunday https://t.co/LB6CXJvBBa by @JohnDeShazier #GoSaints pic.twitter.com/lwbO4KP3fM
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 28, 2018
"He's going to have a chance to play some more. His last games were in the preseason, but he's looked sharp all week," Payton added. "The players understand how we want to approach this game."
Bridgewater, who is set to become a free agent this offseason, suffered a devastating knee injury before the start of the 2016 season. He has appeared in four games with the Saints since he was traded from the New York Jets in August, but the 26-year-old is not worried about his long break from action.
"Being in the position that '’m in, you always have to stay ready," Bridgewater told the New Orleans Times-Picayune earlier this week about the possibility of starting. "That's my mindset since I arrived here. Approach these games with the mindset that the opportunity can come with the blink of an eye."
If Brees, in fact, does not play, he will finish the regular season with 3,992 yards passing, the first time since 2005 that he has not reached the 4,000-yard mark. Yet his 74.4 per cent (364 of 489) completion percentage is the best in the NFL this season and of his 18-year career.
The Saints (13-2) clinched the NFC's top seed in week 16 with a 31-28 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. After Sunday's matchup, New Orleans will have a bye week before a division round playoff game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.