Teddy Bridgewater is right in the mix for the Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – The grizzled veteran. The comeback kid. The hotshot rookie.

The New York Jets' quarterback competition is an intriguing mix of experience, charisma and hype with Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Darnold all going for the starting job this summer.

And any of the three could end up under center when the regular season begins in September.

"It's a fun room to be a part of," McCown said last week at the Jets' three-day minicamp. "Just personally because of the character of those guys, but also professionally because of how they approach their job and what they bring to the table."

McCown is the incumbent starter, so he entered offseason workouts as the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart. But he's well aware that he's not the future of the franchise. That label would go to the 21-year-old Darnold, who was the No. 3 overall pick out of USC.

Darnold has shown steady improvement in the short time he has been with the Jets.

"Every day, I feel like he goes out and gets better," McCown said. "I think for all of us, but particularly young players, you're discovering something new every time you step on the field. … Being that's the stage he's in, he's learning a lot about these plays and the ins and outs of them, so he's done a good job with that."

"That's not up to me," Darnold said. "It's really a coaching decision. I'm going to come in here and work every single day. I'm just going to work and grow to be the best quarterback I can be and help this team do well."

Bridgewater can't be ruled out, either, especially with the way he has looked throughout the offseason.

The 25-year-old quarterback who signed a one-year deal with the Jets is still working his way back from a severe knee injury that threatened his career nearly two years ago. But he has shown no ill effects or limitations in the non-contact practices while wearing a brace on his left knee. Bridgewater has also looked good commanding the offense, including making some throws on the run.

That very fact seemed almost impossible Aug. 30, 2016, when Bridgewater — then with the Vikings — went down with a non-contact injury to his knee. He had torn the anterior cruciate ligament and had other structural damage, including a dislocated knee joint.

"It was scary," Bridgewater recalled. "But at the end of the day, I was still breathing."