Nate Sudfeld has been on a fast track this week that took him on a coast-to-coast trip with a change in jobs, and a crash course in learning what is required of him from his new employer.
That's part of what goes with the job of being a backup quarterback in the National Football League.
On Monday Sudfeld was a member of the San Francisco 49ers and preparing to start his seventh season in the NFL.
On Tuesday he was a member of the Detroit Lions, after being released by the 49ers and signed by the Lions. That was the beginning of a hectic few days for Sudfeld to join his new team.
Sudfeld experienced a whirlwind of emotions, which is understandable considering he was told by one team he wasn't wanted anymore – and had to fly coast to coast to meet his new one.
"It's been fast," Sudfeld said Thursday after his second day of practice with his new team.
"Things ended in San Francisco, and basically I caught a red-eye out here. Landed at 5.a.m. (Wednesday) and went straight here for a physical and meetings and practice yesterday.
"I was going off about an hour of 'flight sleep.' Last night I was able to get nine hours of sleep. I felt really good today.
"It happened fast, but I'm super pumped to be here."
Sudfeld caught a break in one way after being released by the 49ers. The Lions were without a backup after releasing Tim Boyle and waiving David Blough in the mandatory cut to a 53-player roster limit.
Boyle and Blough battled the last two years for the backup job to Lions starter Jared Goff. With both gone, the Lions were left with Goff as the only quarterback on the roster.
The backup quarterback role fits Sudfeld. He has played the role since entering the league as Washington's sixth-round draft pick out of Indiana.
Sudfeld has spent six seasons in the league with three teams – one with Washington (2016) four with Philadelphia (2017-2020) and one with San Francisco (2021).
In college he was a four-year player and three-year starter for Indiana. He played 30 games with 26 starts, all in his last three seasons. He threw 61 TD passes against 20 interceptions with a career completion rate of 60.3 percent.
View photos from Detroit Lions practice on Thursday, September 1, 2022.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift (32) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker (21) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Saivion Smith (19), Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44), Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams (30) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Charles Harris (53) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (46) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Mike Hughes (23), Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Mike Hughes (23), Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs (98) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Benito Jones (94) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3), Detroit Lions kicker Austin Seibert (19) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Benito Jones (94) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld (12) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Josh Woods (51) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker (21) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Charles Harris (53) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4), Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4), Detroit Lions cornerback Mike Hughes (23) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams (30) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Julian Okwara (99) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld (12) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Justin Jackson (42) Detroit Lions linebacker Josh Woods (51), during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Derrick Deese Jr. (48) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston (59) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during practice at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on September 1, 2022. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
In his four NFL games, all with the Eagles, Sudfeld has completed 25 of 37 passes for 188 yards, one TD and one interception, and a completion rate of 67.6 percent.
Sudfeld has learned a lot in his six years in the NFL, and he expects that will help him support Goff as he enters his seventh year.
"I've learned from a lot of great guys," he said. "I had a lot of great guys when I was young keep me under their wings -- teach me the ropes. I've been able to pay it forward with the young guys I've been around.
"I've been able to learn a lot through that time, help the starter prepare, but also getting prepared as the backup because you're one play away."
