"She was never really down because she would always say that there is someone else out there whose situation is way worse than mine," he said. "So, (she) can't be down and plus the cancer feeds off of negativity. So (she) had to be positive and that's why I feel like I'm just this positive guy. Watching her continuing to smile and stay upbeat throughout her toughest times in life, it just had a huge impact on me."

Last December, Bridgewater made it back onto the field in the fourth quarter of a Vikings' win over the Bengals. And the month prior, in a game versus the Redskins in Washington, Bridgewater fought back tears as he was activated and served as the team's backup.

"This game means a lot to me. I've been playing football since I was five years old," he said. "It brought tears to my eyes because it showed me that you are never out of it. You're never out of the fight. There were dark days throughout my rehab process. So, you know when you are rehabbing, the light seems so far at the end of the tunnel. But being able to see that light and make it to the light, which is being active and standing on the sideline with my gear on, that kind of hit me a little."

While declining to discuss specifics regarding his knee, Bridgewater says he is getting better every day. Jets head coach Todd Bowles said the team is excited to see what Bridgewater can do in training camp and he figures to push the prized rookie Sam Darnold and the savvy veteran McCown.

"He's a better guy than people said. I think he's great to be around," McCown said. "I've heard a lot of great things about him before and he's even better to be a part of the quarterback room."