The Detroit Lions have brought back a familiar face.

The team signed veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to the active roster and he was on the practice field Thursday as the Lions begin on-field preparations for Monday night's game on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.

Bridgewater spent last season as Jared Goff's backup in Detroit but retired after the season to coach his high school alma mater, Miami Northwestern. After leading Northwestern to a state title earlier this month, Bridgewater told NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero he planned to return to the NFL.

Bridgewater, 32, knows the offense and is a good fit in Detroit.

"I've been in contact with Teddy for a while. It was something that was always potentially a possibility," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Thursday. "We all know what Teddy's been doing down there and giving back to his community. They won a championship down there, so his debut at coaching worked out pretty dang good.

"But to be able to get somebody back here that's got experience – he's staying in shape, he's been throwing, just get him worked back in here a little bit. It just brings a level of professionalism, veteran presence, somebody that's great for our team, great for the position."

Bridgewater has career stops with the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins. He's played in 79 games with 65 starts and has a 33-32 record, throwing for 15,120 yards, 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.

Campbell said the move to add Bridgewater was not a sign that they are disappointed or lacking trust in second-year quarterback Hendon Hooker. The 2023 third-round pick has served as Goff's backup all season and Campbell said he has gotten 'a little bit better' each week.

"Doesn't mean we're disappointed in Hooker, that's not what this means, it just means this gives us somebody that's played a lot in the NFL, we're getting ready for the playoffs," Campbell said. "And so, it'll be good to get him back in the fold with us."

"I understand what it looks like, but it's just a different world that we're getting ready to walk into, and I just – we felt like this was the right thing to do, especially with somebody that I have a tremendous amount of trust with and for. He understands our offense well, the guys know him well, the coaches know him well, and he brings a certain level of comfort to us."

CHEESEHEADS FOR A DAY

Lions fans will become huge Green Bay Packers fans Sunday starting at around 4:25 p.m. The Packers face the Vikings in Minnesota, and a Packers win would give the Lions an opportunity to clinch the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win Monday night in San Francisco.

A Vikings win will mean that no matter what happens in the Lions-49ers game Monday night, the Week 18 matchup between the Vikings and Lions in Detroit will be a winner take all for the division title (and the No. 1 seed for Detroit) with the loser falling to the No. 5 seed and starting the playoffs on the road.

REEVES-MAYBIN UPDATE

Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin looks poised to return to the lineup this week vs. San Francisco. Campbell said he felt pretty good about Reeves-Maybin making it back this week after the Lions started his practice clock last week.

The veteran linebacker has been out since injuring his neck Week 9 in Houston. He was a Pro Bowl special teamer for the Lions last year and is a valuable reserve at linebacker, especially in passing situations. The Lions have been hit hard by injury at linebacker with Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez currently on IR.

EXTRA POINT

The Lions began the practice clock of wide receiver/returner Kalif Raymond Thursday, though Campbell didn't seem optimistic he would be able to play Monday in San Francisco.

"I don't feel as confident with him as I do Germ (Reeves-Maybin), but it's good to have him back out practicing," Campbell said of the possibility Raymond returns this week against the 49ers. "It will be good to get him back out there running around."