ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — At a certain point, every NFL veteran learns that the trick to sustaining a long career is not just about about what you do but what you're made of.
Through a career-threatening injury, quarterback competitions and just the daily grind that comes with being a professional athlete, Teddy Bridgewater has put in the work to prove he's an asset for any team, which is definitely part of why the Broncos brought him to Denver.
In his eighth NFL season with his fourth team, Bridgewater understands his mindset may be just as important at this stage of his career as the talent he's shown on the field. In Denver, his fourth NFL home, it's what guides him.
"I'm a survivor, you know what I mean?" Bridgewater said. "You can throw me in the jungle and I'm gonna come out with a fur coat [and] a headband that I made out of some leaves. I feel like, man, it's just about surviving at this point. Every day I have my fire that's lit, and it's like, man, God is placing me in different positions for a reason. And I've made an impact at everywhere that I've been — some on the field, some off the field."
Training camp is officially underway for the Broncos. Check out our photos capturing all the fun and hard work from Day 1 of #BroncosCamp.
Jonathon Cooper during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Mike Boone during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Jonathan Harris during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Tim Patrick and Kyle Fuller during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Adam Prentice during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Isaiah Mack during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Von Miller during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Josey Jewell during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
McTelvin Agim during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Justin Strnad during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Mike Boone during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Trinity Benson during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
KJ Hamler and Kyle Fuller during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Kareem Jackson during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Justin Simmons during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Drew Lock scrambles during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Justin Simmons during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
McTelvin Agim during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Kyle Fuller during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Pat Surtain II, Ronald Darby and Parnell Motley during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
KJ Hamler during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
A fan watches during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Brett Rypien during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Melvin Gordon III and Running Backs Coach Curtis Modkins during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Jerry Jeudy during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Melvin Gordon III during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Noah Fant during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Mac McCain III during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Courtland Sutton during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Diontae Spencer during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Jerry Jeudy during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Melvin Gordon III during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Bryce Callahan and Kyle Fuller during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andre Mintze during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Michael Ojemudia during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Brandon McManus during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Teddy Bridgewater during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Noah Fant during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Nate Hairston during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
KJ Hamler during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Tedric Thompson during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Trinity Benson during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Brandon McManus gives a thumbs up during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Sam Martin gives a thumbs up during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Kareem Jackson during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Kareem Jackson and Von Miller during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Von Miller douses himself with water during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Jonathon Cooper and Derrek Tuszka during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Defensive Line Coach Bill Kollar during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Von Miller during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Trey Marshall during practice on the first day of training camp at UCHealth Training Center on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Teddy Bridgewater during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Bradley Chubb during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Melvin Gordon III during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Melvin Gordon III during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Teddy Bridgewater and Javonte Williams during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Andrew Beck during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Albert Okwuegbunam during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Drew Lock, Garett Bolles, Melvin Gordon III in a huddle during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
A rabbit during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Melvin Gordon III during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Kyle Fuller and Adam Prentice chase a loose ball during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Seth Williams during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Jerry Jeudy during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Warren Jackson during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Mac McCain III during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Bradley Chubb during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
McTelvin Agim during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Fans line the berm during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Andre Mintze during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Warren Jackson during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Derrek Tuszka during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
KJ Hamler during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Peter Kalambayi during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Von Miller gets the crowd hyped during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Teddy Bridgewater, Drew Lock and the rest of the team warm up during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Von Miller gets the crowd hyped during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Fans line the berm during training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Fan fill the berm during the first day of training camp on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado. Photo by Gabriel Christus
As he looks to make an impact with the Broncos, he'll first have to see whether he'll earn the starting role through a competition with Drew Lock during training camp. With Lock as the incumbent starter and Bridgewater as the more veteran player, Head Coach Vic Fangio has said that the team will split reps in training camp evenly at 50-50.
"I'm all for it," Bridgewater said. "At the end of the day, we're all competing to make this team a better team. Throughout training camp, we want to come out here and practice with a purpose. So, if it's 50 percent of the reps that I'm getting and 50 percent of the reps Drew's getting and [QB] Brett [Rypien] is getting his reps, it's all about just making our squad better. One of my great mentors always says, 'Just get your team to the end zone.' When I'm out there with the reps that I get, I'm talking to the guys in the huddle, just trying to maximize that rep the best way I can. …
"Honestly, I'm just practicing with purpose. That's one of our goals that Coach talked about last night. Practicing with purpose and having purpose when you come out here. I tell the guys when we break it down, 'Let's make sure every rep has a purpose.' There's a lesson in evert rep. There's a lesson in everything you do. When I'm out there, it's one play at a time. I make sure I maximize it and have purpose."
During camp, when Bridgewater and Lock rotate between working with the first- and second-team offense (and a mish-mash of the different units to give various players experience), it may be hard to suss out the importance of one play against another — but that's nothing Bridgewater can obsess over. Instead, he'll approach each rep the same, regardless of who's around him.
"I leave that one to the coaches and the decision-makers," Bridgewater said. "It's all about maximizing the reps in your unit and getting your unit to the end zone — moving the ball and being efficient, whether you're with the 2's, the 3's or if we have to go to the equipment managers and the folks serving us food in the cafeteria. You just want to be efficient. In the end, the decision-makers will make that decision based off the things that they see.
"You never look at it like, 'Hey, man, I'm in here with the 3's or the 2's. Those guys are fighting just like us to earn a spot on this team. Every rep with them counts, and every rep with the 1's count and every rep with the 3's count. It's one of those deals where the decisions-makers — and whatever factors into their decision — will make the decision, and I want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to do my part."
When it comes to the quarterback competition, Bridgewater is comfortable that all the work he puts in on the field and off it will create a just result. At this point, that's all he's focused on.
"That's out of my control, honestly," Bridgewater said. "I'm sure there's a ton of things that go into that decision that'll be made, but for the most part, that's probably down the road. Right now, today was Day 1 of practice. Guys were back, guys were flying around [with] lot of smiles out there on the field and a ton of energy. That's what you want in training camp and moving forward to the season."
The survivor in him will trust the rest to follow.
