Quarterback stuns the Lions by telling them he wants to step away from the NFL just weeks before the new season

Veteran NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater shocked the Detroit Lions by telling them he is stepping away from football.

It comes just 35 days before Dan Campbell's team is due to play its season opener against the New Orleans Saints.

Bridgewater was in line to serve as the back up to starting Lions quarterback Jared Goff this season.

But now the Lions will have to assess their options and even consider signing a replacement to add to the depth chart.

'Teddy Bridgewater is going to step away. I've known Teddy a long time. The human being is unbelievable. Certainly, the player, everything that he's about,' Campbell said on Sunday.

'The type of teammate he is, the way he prepares, always played the game up here and had a huge heart. He's gonna be missed. I'll never forget 2019 when Drew got injured. We had just gone out to the Rams, got beat out there, and Drew got his thumb. We lost him for five weeks. Teddy stepped in, we won five in a row, man.

'That was Teddy. Just his time being with us meant a lot, and meant a lot to our guys. He's gonna be missed.' 

More to follow.