SEATTLE Sean Payton feared he was going to lose Teddy Bridgewater.

Bridgewater was an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and the Miami Dolphins offered him a two-year, $10 million offer.

Payton was vacationing in the Bahamas at the same time as Bridgewater's agent, and the two had a 4-hour conversation.

"We wanted to keep him here," Payton said. "It was important."

Bridgewater, a Miami native, turned down the Dolphins' hometown bid, and signed a 1-year, $7.2 million deal on March 15.

Exactly six months later on Sept. 15, Saints starting quarterback Drew Brees went down in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams with a thumb injury. The significance of Brees' injury was not immediately known, but Bridgewater finished the game.

In relief of Brees, Bridgewater completed 17-of-30 passes for 165 yards for a quarterback rating of 72.2.

I thought he did great in a tough circumstance," Brees said of Bridgewater after the Rams game.

SEATTLE Three New Orleans Saints players have been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Seahawks as they recover from injuries.

But now that Brees is out indefinitely after having thumb surgery on Wednesday, it's Bridgewater's time come Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

And after a full week of practice, Payton feels Bridgewater and Taysom Hill, since the Saints aren't naming a starting quarterback is ready.

"Any time you miss a starter, there's that adjustment that takes place certainly at the quarterback position," Payton said. "But, those guys will be ready to go. We will be excited about playing."

Payton knew of Bridgewater's character traits far before the Louisville quarterback landed in Metairie, as Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer clued him in.

Payton believes Bridgewater is a "fantastic leader," adding that he sees the other players looking up to him.

"He's got some of those 'it' things that you look for, those traits that carry onto the field with his teammates," Payton said.

SEATTLE - Sheldon Rankins admits it's been tough standing on the sideline the past two weeks.

One of the things the Saints offensive players have been preaching is communication.

Saints starting right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, who has played 37 total games with Brees in the pocket, said communication "is going to be the biggest" adjustment between Bridgewater and Brees for this week.

We're accustomed to Drew," Ramczyk said. "That is all I have known since I have been here. So Drews demeanor and everything he does in the huddle, out of the huddle, everything is very consistent. Its the same and I think Teddy does a good job of being on kind of the same level."

But it's been a while since Bridgewater started in a meaningful game.

New Orleans Saints quarterbacks Taysom Hill (7) and Teddy Bridgewater (5) before the New Orleans Saints host the Washington Redskins at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La. Monday, Oct. 8, 2018. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) ORG XMIT: MER1c16fdca44e9388b824d1360ae28c

Bridgewater started against the Carolina Panthers last season, but the Saints had already wrapped up the NFC South title by then. He also suited up in the preseason for the past two years, but he knows it's not the same.

"It is nothing like being out there during the games when it counts the most," Bridgewater said. "Not saying that the preseason doesn't count. Never take the game for granted, but just to be able to go out there and compete at the high level just brought back memories.

The last time Bridgewater started a game that meant something was during the 2015 postseason.

The Vikings squared off against the Seahawks in the NFC Wildcard round, falling 10-9 as he completed 17-of-25 passes for 146 yards.

When the Saints take the field in Seattle, they'll be decked out in white-on-white and with a track record of success.

But that year as a whole was successful for him, as he earned Pro Bowl honors and led Minnesota to its first NFC North title since 2000.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll remembers Bridgewater's output from that game.

"He just runs the game well," Carroll said. "He's in control, in command. You can count on him. Over time he's a winning quarterback and over time he's got more touchdowns than picks and he's a very reliable quarterback and player.

Bridgewater's been through plenty of adversity since then, as in the preseason ahead of the 2016 campaign, Bridgewater went down with a non-contact injury in practice. He tore his ACL, dislocated his knee joint and sustained other structural damage. His surgeon, who was given permission by Bridgewater to speak with the media, likened Bridgewater's injury to a "war wound."

But three years and two teams later, Bridgewater feels even better than he did pre-surgery.

I can honestly say that this is the best I've ever felt in my six years, Bridgewater said during training camp. And I feel great mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Bridgewater's keying in on many things ahead of his first quality start since before missing nearly two full seasons due to that injury, but one big thing is that he's not Drew Brees.

Living up to Brees' legacy is impossible, as he's a singularity when it comes to the franchise.

"When you think of the Saints, you think of Drew Brees first before anybody else in the history of the Saints," Armstead said.

The motto this week: Teddy Bridgewater is his own man. He's his own quarterback.

"There's only one Drew Brees and we know that," Bridgewater said. "He's the standard, but at the end of the day there's only one Drew Brees.

But there's another question to be asked.

Saints fans know who Drew Brees is, but have they seen the Teddy Bridgewater?

With Drew Brees likely out for six weeks, it's next man up for the New Orleans Saints. And that next man is Teddy Bridgewater.

Bridgewater said, "I don't think so."

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With Drew Brees on mend, Teddy Bridgewater ready to step up as Saints QB - NOLA.com