ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Dan Campbell broke the news Sunday, and a day later, Teddy Bridgewater took to Instagram to confirm it.He’s retiring from the NFL. For good.“This time, it’s official,” Bridgewater wrote Monday on Instagram. “It’s so crazy 10 years ago around this time, I suffered one of the most gruesome knee injuries the game itself, its players and some doctors had ever seen. Everything football-related since 2016 had been fueled by the “experts” predicting that I would never play football again. We really showed them by playing 10 more seasons! However, this wheel of mine can no longer deal with something so simple as standing around on the turf field. This thing just doesn’t recover the same way it did years ago so I’d rather officially hang it up. It’s finally run its course and when the body speaks to me, I have to listen so that I can be in one piece and available for my children as they grow up. The game of football was beyond great to me and owes me nothing at all. I really did things my way.”Based on Bridgewater’s comments, the knee injury he suffered in 2016 with the Minnesota Vikings was a factor in this decision — in addition to his desire to be healthy for his family. Bridgewater is preparing for the birth of his daughter in a couple of weeks, and if the pain was enough that he didn’t feel right while simply standing on turf, it makes sense to retire. The fact he made it this far is a testament to his resilience.Should Detroit Lions be considered favorites to win NFC North?Robert Mays and Derrik KlassenWhat does it mean for the Detroit Lions’ backup QB job? It’s worth discussing.What Bridgewater brought to the tableThere’s a story Campbell often tells when asked to describe his thoughts on Bridgewater. It was 2019, and Drew Brees suffered a torn UCL — a thumb injury to his throwing hand. He was set to miss significant time, and the New Orleans Saints’ playoff hopes were in Bridgewater’s hands.Campbell will never forget it.“Drew got injured, we had just gone out to the Rams, got beat out there, and Drew got his thumb, and we lost him for five weeks, and Teddy stepped in,” Campbell recalled. “We won five in a row, man. And that was Teddy. And then just his time being with us meant a lot, and it meant a lot to our guys. So, he’s going to be missed.”During his time with the Lions, Bridgewater was credited with helping Jameson Williams develop into a professional and offering guidance and mentorship to a young locker room. During the 2024 playoffs, Bridgewater was forced into action when Goff briefly left to be evaluated for a concussion and oversaw a touchdown drive. He’s been a calming presence in more ways than one.The Lions lost key veteran voices this offseason: Alex Anzalone, Amik Robertson, DJ Reader, Taylor Decker, Kalif Raymond — leaders in their position groups. And though the Lions believe their replacements can be trusted to fill the void, it didn’t hurt to add one of the most respected players in the league, Bridgewater. It’s a role that would’ve fit him well, but given what we now know, his decision is understandable.Bridgewater is moving on, and the Lions are, too.What the Lions look for in a backup QBThe majority of Goff’s backups have been either veterans who’ve started games and been around the block or smart quarterbacks on a coaching trajectory.Former Lions QB David Blough fits the latter. Coaches raved about his intelligence and ideas when he was here. He’s now the offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders, and the Lions even showed interest in Blough for their own OC opening this offseason before the Commanders promoted him. It’s why Detroit kept him around despite his physical limitations.Then there’s the experienced journeymen we’ve seen in past training camps. Nate Sudfeld, Kyle Allen and Bridgewater have spent at least a full season backing up Goff and have been credited for being sounding boards for QB1. Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell has talked about the role of a backup when it comes to supporting the starter.“It’s very important for a starter to have a resource on the sideline — a backup guy who just wants Jared to be the best he can be,” Brunell said in 2023. “It makes all the difference in the world.”That’s what Bridgewater was, and it’s what the Lions wanted to add when the news was announced. The Lions have typically leaned toward this type of QB. They’ve tried the developmental route in the past when they used a third-round pick on Hendon Hooker, but he was cut before the start of his third NFL season. Finding an experienced QB to pick up the offense two weeks into training camp is less than ideal, but the Lions might’ve found a perfect man for the job.Luke Altmyer threw for 3,007 yards with 22 TD passes and five interceptions last season at Illinois. (Junfu Han / Imagn Images)Who are the candidates?The Lions moved quickly to replace Bridgewater, signing veteran Joshua Dobbs on Sunday. Dobbs spent part of the 2022 season with the Lions, but the Tennessee Titans signed him off Detroit’s practice just weeks later. Before that, Dobbs spent part of the 2022 season with current Lions OC Drew Petzing, who was Dobbs’ QBs coach with the Cleveland Browns that season. When Petzing left Cleveland to become the OC of the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, Dobbs joined him.Among the free-agent QBs available, Dobbs made the most sense as a smart veteran with experience and familiarity with Petzing’s terminology. Dobbs, who graduated from Tennessee with a 4.0 GPA in aerospace engineering, is viewed as a quick study and high-character individual. He owns a career passer rating of 78.3 and has 15 career starts. He fits the mold of what the Lions look for in a backup, and his ability to help starters is one of the reasons teams keep calling.“We signed Josh Dobbs,” Campbell said Monday. “We had a short period with him (in 2022). Man, it’s been a while now. But man, we really liked him. And then he got poached, and so, that’s kind of where it went, but it’s good to get him back. Just saw him this morning. He’ll be out there running around. We probably won’t give him any reps, but just get him up to speed off on the side. And so, it’s good to have him”“Josh and I met in high school at the Elite 11, 15 years ago or so,” Goff said. “I’ve known Josh for a long time, competed against him. He was here for, what was it, 10 days or something? He was great to have in the room then, and I’m excited to have him back.”And then there’s Luke Altmyer, a rookie UDFA who’s been with the team since April. Altmyer has been running the second- and third-team offense in camp, albeit with ups and downs. He’s mobile, and when he has time to let it rip, he’s shown solid accuracy. However, Altmyer threw two interceptions as the No. 2 QB during Monday’s practice. It comes with the territory.“We like Luke,” Campbell said. “Luke is growing, Luke is getting better, he just needs reps. I mean, he needs a million reps. But the reps that he has gotten to this point, he has improved. And so we like him, but we are going to add somebody.”The Lions will give Altmyer a long look in the preseason — especially early, as Dobbs gets up to speed on the offense. Based on how the Lions have typically approached this backup job, Dobbs is likely to make the roster as Detroit’s No. 2 (barring a collapse), and Altmyer could be more of a practice-squad option to stash until he becomes more.We’ll see whether the preseason changes that narrative. The Lions kick things off at 7 p.m. Thursday versus the Bengals in Cincinnati.