Bridgewater had been the emergency-only No. 3 QB, inactive on game days ever since re-signing with the Lions late in the year. That status has now changed. Bridgewater is active for Saturday night’s divisional round matchup against the Washington Commanders. Rookie Hendon Hooker is inactive and the designated third QB for this one.

When the Detroit Lions released their list of inactives ahead of the playoff game against the Washington Commanders on Saturday night, quarterback Hendon Hooker was on the list. Here's why the Lions opted to go in a different direction for their backup quarterback behind Jared Goff.

The Lions signed Bridgewater as insurance ahead of the playoffs in a move Lions coach Dan Campbell insisted was no reflection of their faith in Hooker as a backup.