Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
This time last summer, Jimmy Clausen had just signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears for a chance to compete for the team’s No. 2 quarterback spot. This move was made by the Bears’ old regime, which included last season’s general manager and head coach, Phil Emery and Marc Trestman, respectively. Eventually, Clausen beat out fellow quarterback Jordan Palmer and became the backup to Jay Cutler for the 2014 NFL season.
After a dismal year by Cutler and the rest of the Bears, Clausen was given the chance to start against the Detroit Lions in Week 16 only to get knocked out with a concussion. Fortunately, at season’s end, Chicago re-signed the Notre Dame product to another one-year deal, despite having a new general manager and head coach in place.
Heading into this year’s training camp, Clausen will more than likely be the favorite to be the Bears’ second-string QB once again. His 11 career starts since entering the NFL in 2010 isn’t much, but it is more than what David Fales and Shane Carden have under their belts. Fales and Carden are the other two quarterbacks on Chicago’s depth chart, and neither one of them has any regular-season experience.
Due to the enormous amount of money that Cutler will be getting this year, it is virtually impossible for Clausen to get a shot at being the starting quarterback at the start of the 2015 season. However, if Cutler continues to be the epitome of inconsistency, then Clausen just might get his chance to be the main guy under center midway through the year.
Clyde A. Speller is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClydeASpeller.
