Teddy Bridgewater has thrown three passes the past three seasons. He played nine snaps last season and has played 19 this season.On Sunday https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/J.J.-Jansen-Jersey , the Saints backup quarterback will get a chance to play more and throw more than he has in any regular-season game since 2015.“I never turned it off,” Bridgewater said, via Nick Underhill of . “Being in the position that I’m in you always have to stay ready. That’s been my mindset since I arrived here. Approach each day with the same mindset that your opportunity can come within a blink of an eye.”Drew Brees revealed Wednesday that Bridgewater will play Sunday with nothing on the line for the Saints, who have clinched the NFC’s top seed. It is uncertain whether Brees will start or how much he will play.“I’m excited for him,” Brees said. “I think there’s no doubt he’s going to get some playing time. It’s just a matter of how much. He’s the kind of guy who prepares to play every week.”Bridgewater has not started a game since 2015 because of a serious knee injury that sidelined him in 2016 and part of 2017. He spent part of last season as a backup to Case Keenum in Minnesota before signing with the Jets in free agency. The Jets traded him to the Saints https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Mike-Adams-Jersey , and Bridgewater becomes a free agent again this offseason.He likely becomes one of the top free agents at his position.Bridgewater said it was too soon to think about the offseason when asked if he would consider returning to New Orleans next season. Brees, who could win his first MVP award next month if he can beat out Patrick Mahomes, turns 40 in January. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Utah defensive lineman Lowell Lotulelei says Michigan defensive lineman Maurice Hurst Jr. told him Saturday that he had been diagnosed with the same heart condition as Lotulelei’s older brother, Star.The comments came shortly after ESPN.com first reported Hurst will not be allowed to participate in drills.League spokesman Michael Signora confirmed that players can be held out based on certain diagnoses but that he believed Hurst was still in town.Jeff Foster, president of National Football Scouting https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Matt-Kalil-Jersey , declined to confirm details of what happened because of privacy concerns. But he did tell The Associated Press that six to eight players have been withheld from drills this year for reasons players were not aware of before their arrival.Foster said that number has stayed relatively consistent over the past 13 years.Hurst had been rising steadily on mock draft boards.The 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive tackle had 59 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks last season. He also had 13 tackles for loss and has been considered one component of a deep class of defensive tackles in this year’s draft.Hurst’s father played seven seasons with the New England Patriots as a cornerback.Word leaked just after defensive linemen and linebackers started talking to reporters at the NFL’s annual scouting combine in Indianapolis.“I just found out in the NFLPA meeting that we just had. He just said, `Star was your brother?’ And I said yeah. He’s like, `Man, I just got the same thing that he did https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Captain-Munnerlyn-Jersey ,'” Lowell Lotulelei told reporters. “Obviously I didn’t go through it, so I don’t really know what he’s feeling like. But I kind of understand the disappointment just because my brother trained just like he trained and you’re expecting one thing and getting another. I feel for him. It sucks. But I think he’ll be fine just like my brother was.”Five years ago, Star Lotulelei arrived at the combine as the expected first pick in that year’s draft.Things changed dramatically after doctors identified an “abnormal” test on his heart.Lotulelei then sought additional opinions, eventually was cleared to exercise and was taken by Carolina with the 14th overall selection in the 2013 draft. He has missed only four games in five NFL seasons.