Rutgers vs. Louisville: Cardinals' QB Teddy Bridgewater to start Thursday

Louisville Cardinals sophomore quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will play Thursday when the Cardinals visit the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for a Big East Conference football game (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN), head coach Charlie Strong confirmed to the media Monday during his weekly teleconference.

Bridgewater, who's more than likely the front-runner for the Big East Offensive Player of the Year award, was banged up in last Saturday's triple overtime loss, 23-20, to the Connecticut Huskies. Despite leaving the game for a few plays in the first half, the 6'3, 218-pound signal caller returned to nearly help the Cardinals pull off a come-from-behind victory.

"We just need to do a good job of protecting Teddy," Strong said. "He got banged up a little but was able to comeback in the second half against Connecticut. Teddy is very tough, he's a competitor, so we will be able to go with him."

Bridgewater attempted 53 passes en route to his sixth 300-plus yard performance against UConn, which used a 30-yard field goal by Chad Christen to pull off the upset. All game long, UConn relentlessly pressured Bridgewater, who ended up throwing a decisive interception on the Cardinals' final possession of the game. The interception basically handed the Huskies the road victory.

Ask if Bridgewater was 100-percent Strong responded, "I don't know how close he is to 100-percent, but we are going to monitor him this week and he played the second half against Connecticut, so nothing should change.

The Cardinals face a Rutgers defense that's ranked No. 1 in the Big East in total defense, but ranks dead last in sacks per game (1.64).