Teddy Bridgewater can’t help but smile these days.

Even through the sweat and exhaustion that mark the blazing hot days of training camp [url=http://www.the49ersfootballauthentic.com/fred-warner-jersey-authentic]Youth Fred Warner Jersey[/url] , the New York Jets quarterback still appreciates the little things about being a professional football player.

Because he almost wasn’t anymore.

“I get excited every day I get to get my ankles taped, lace my cleats up and run out of the locker room and practice because it was taken away from me for two years,” Bridgewater said after a recent practice.

“To be able to just wake up and know you have the opportunity to continue to do something that you love doing, it’s a great feeling.”

Bridgewater has the type of perspective few players ever get, or want to get, for that matter. He was able to come back from the type of injury that would end most playing careers.

But when the Jets open their preseason schedule Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons, Bridgewater will step on the field — and probably smile some more.

And then, he’ll get under center for what will likely be his most extensive game action in almost two years.

“Right now, I am doing everything I dreamed of doing and that is waking up and continuing to play football,” Bridgewater said. “It’s a wonderful feeling. It gives me the chills right now just thinking about it, knowing how the previous two years were. But you take advantage of this opportunity. I look forward to every day.

“Some people may say, ‘This is training camp. This is the grind of things, and I can’t wait to get to the regular season, things will be easier,” but I look forward to it. You embrace the grind because it was once taken from you.”

On Aug. 30, 2016 [url=http://www.authenticsindianapoliscolts.com/cheap-kemoko-turay-jersey]Kemoko Turay Color Rush Jersey[/url] , the former Louisville star was practicing with the Minnesota Vikings when he went down with a non-contact injury. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and dislocated the knee joint, and it is believed that only quick work by the team training staff and doctors saved Bridgewater’s leg.

Playing football again didn’t seem likely, given the severity of the injury. But Bridgewater never gave up believing in a big-time comeback.

“Never, never,” he said. “I had nothing but positive thoughts. I didn’t allow any negativity to even creep into my circle. I knew that if I’m negative, I’m going to have those negative thoughts and it may hinder my progress.”

So, Bridgewater approached his recovery and arduous rehabilitation with the same type of determination.

He learned to move his leg again. And walk. Then, jog. And, now, run.

Bridgewater gradually regained strength in his knee and trusted that it would hold up when he dropped back to throw a pass.

On Dec. 17, 2017 — nearly 16 months after he went down in a heap of pain and uncertainty — Bridgewater walked onto the field at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in the fourth quarter against Cincinnati. The fans gave him a standing ovation, and he went on to throw two passes in the Vikings’ 34-7 win, including one that was intercepted.

The stats didn’t matter. He had made it back.

Just as he always believed.

“I definitely feel like I’m good,” Bridgewater said of his health. “I’ve been working with the training staff here and we’ve been hitting it hard, and I’m excited. I’m looking forward to these upcoming preseason games and just getting out there and having fun playing football again.”

The Vikings moved on from Bridgewater during the offseason and allowed him to become a free agent. The Jets, with uncertainty at the quarterback position [url=http://www.dolphinsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-josh-sitton-jersey]Dolphins Josh Sitton Jersey[/url] , signed him to a one-year deal.

The also brought back Josh McCown, the incumbent starter, and drafted Sam Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick out of USC who is considered the future of the franchise. Having them on the field with Bridgewater this summer has made for an intriguing quarterback competition.

“He has been a great team player, great in the meeting room and for the guys as well,” coach Todd Bowles said of Bridgewater. “I’ve got to say, this is the best three-quarterback combination room I’ve been around from a mental standpoint, so that is great to have.”

McCown is No. 1 on the depth chart, followed by Bridgewater and Darnold, and all three have had up-and-down moments on the field this summer. Off the field, all three quarterbacks have repeatedly talked about the camaraderie they have quickly established. And, there’s a ton of respect for Bridgewater willing himself to even get back to this point.

“Obviously, he’s had a long road recovery-wise from his knee, but his mind has been on football,” McCown said. “You can tell he’s sharp and I’ve been really impressed with everything he’s done. I think the future is really bright for Teddy. I’m excited for him.”

Bridgewater has been checking off milestones for most of the past 24 months. He’s not sure how long he’ll play Friday night, but whatever he does will be another positive.

The next goal on his list [url=http://www.billscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-tremaine-edmunds-jersey]Cheap Tremaine Edmunds Jersey[/url] , though, is yet to be determined.

“I have to sit down and think about the next milestone,” Bridgewater said. “But for now, it’s just living in the moment, enjoying this opportunity and taking advantage of it.”

Once the Chicago White Sox got started, Yolmer Sanchez wouldn’t be stopped.

Sanchez matched a career high with four RBIs, Avisail Garcia hit his first homer since returning from the disabled list last week and the White Sox came back to beat the Minnesota Twins 8-4 on Tuesday night.

Yoan Moncada drove in a run with a triple and scored as the White Sox won for the third time in four games following an eight-game losing streak. Reynaldo Lopez (3-5) lasted 6 1/3 innings for the win in a contest that began after a delay of 1 hour, 48 minutes because of heavy rain.

Sanchez is hitting .258 on the season, but is 17 for 55 with runners in scoring position. He drove in three runs on a pair bases-loaded singles and a fourth with a groundout.

”I feel good with runners in scoring position,” Sanchez said. ”I don’t try to do too much, I try to put the ball in play and put a good swing (on the ball).”

Lopez yielded four runs and six hits before four Chicago relievers combined for 2 2/3 hitless innings. The 24-year-old right-hander rebounded from a lopsided loss at Cleveland last week when he allowed the first five of the Indians’ 12 runs.

”He ground out the innings that he gave us,” manager Rick Renteria said. ”He continued to show some calm out there.”

Ehire Adrianza hit a solo shot and drove in two runs, and Brian Dozier also went deep for Minnesota.

Minnesota’s Lance Lynn (5-6) seemed to be cruising with a 4-2 lead in a seventh straight solid start, but slipped on the wet grass while fielding Matt Davidson’s soft grounder leading off the bottom of sixth. Leury Garcia singled off Lynn’s glove and Kevan Smith followed with another hit to load the bases, prompting manager Paul Molitor to bring in reliever Ryan Pressly.

”It was a weird inning,” Lynn said. ”I don’t know how to explain it. I should have made both plays.

”They capitalized when they had a chance. It was all on me.”

Pressly walked Tim Anderson to force in a run. Sanchez put the White Sox ahead for the first time when he lined a single off Taylor Rogers with two outs that drove in two.

Lynn allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits through five-plus innings. The 31-year-old right-hander struck out eight and walked one.

Dozier’s 11th homer [url=http://www.oaklandraidersteamonline.com/daryl-worley-jersey]Authentic Daryl Worley Jersey[/url] , on a towering fly that barely cleared the left-field fence, put the Twins ahead 1-0 in the second. Adrianza’s drive to straightaway center on the first pitch of the third made it 2-0.

The White Sox tied it at 2 in the bottom of the inning. Adam Engel reached on Adrianza’s throwing error, then scored on Moncada’s triple to the right-center wall. Moncada came home on Sanchez’s groundout.

Minnesota moved back ahead 4-2 in the fifth. Mitch Garver, Jake Cave and Adrianza opened the inning with sharp singles. Joe Mauer settled for a sac fly as Garcia made a nifty running grab of his liner to the warning track in right center.

After Chicago took a 5-4 lead in the sixth, Garcia hit his second homer of the season – and first since April 3 – in the seventh.

Sanchez singled in another run as the White Sox scored twice in the eighth.

SPECIAL K

Lynn recorded the 1,000th strikeout of his career when he fanned Jose Abreu in the fifth.

THEIR KIND OF TOWN

The Twins began a run of six straight games in Chicago. Their three-game series against the White Sox will be followed by a three-game set at Wrigley Field against the crosstown Cubs.

TWINS’ ROSTER MOVE

The Twins recalled Cave for the third time this season from Triple-A Rochester before Tuesday’s game and started him in right. He took the roster spot of Ryan LaMarre, who was sent down on Sunday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: Two-time All-Star RHP Ervin Santana (right middle finger surgery) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Class A Fort Myers on Saturday after throwing 60 pitches of live batting practice on Monday. Santana’s recovery from Feb. 6 surgery has been slower than expected. The right-hander, 16-8 with a 3.28 ERA last season, made two rehab starts in May before being shut down.

White Sox: RHP Dylan Covey (right hip soreness), who was pulled with no outs in the fifth inning in his last start on Saturday against Oakland, said he felt fine after throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday. Manager Rick Renteria expects Covey to make his next scheduled start, on Friday at Texas. . Garcia collided with Moncada near the right-field line as Garcia caught Eddie Rosario’s pop in the first. Both players seemed stunned, but were checked and remained in the game.

UP NEXT

Twins RHP Kyle Gibson (2-5, 3.25) faces White Sox RHP James Shields (2-9) on Wednesday night.

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