August 30 is a significant date for Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
It was during a practice on this day four years ago that Bridgewater -- a still-blossoming talent for the Vikings at the time -- suffered a non-contact injury to his left leg that was later revealed to be a dislocated knee and torn ACL.
Receiving such a devastating diagnosis instantly put the promising signal-caller's long-term prospects in a tailspin but he did not allow it to derail him. With his Carolina debut only a mere two weeks away, Bridgewater shared via Twitter on Sunday how thankful he is for the clarity the difficult journey provided him.
"While riding in back of that ambulance, I didn't know what my football future had in store for me. In the midst of so much uncertainty and pain, I found peace and my purpose in life. Dear August 30, 2016.....Thank you," Bridgewater wrote.
Coming off a sophomore season in which he started all 16 games, accumulated 3,231 pass yards and 14 touchdowns and earned a Pro Bowl nod, things only looked up for the 2014 first-round pick prior to the injury. The setback eventually brought about the end of Bridgewater's time in Minnesota, but he would later find a home with the Saints where he revived his stock over the past two seasons.
There was a time when it seemed uncertain whether Bridgewater would ever sit atop a depth chart again. Thanks to his hard work and patience, he'll now enter the 2020 season as an undisputed QB1 with the chance to re-write his story after overcoming the adversity that once threatened his career.
