Jimmy Clausen edging Jordan Palmer for Bears No. 2 QB?
Jordan Palmer is the incumbent backup to Jay Cutler for the Chicago Bears. He has had a year in the system. But it sounds like he’s not a lock for the No. 2 spot. He’s just the first one to get a crack at it. Veteran Jimmy Clausen isn’t far behind.
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“Right now, Jordan Palmer has the first shot at being No. 2,” coach Marc Trestman said, via CSN Chicago. “We’re going to give Jordan the first shot; he’s been here the longest.”
Just because he’s had time in the system, doesn’t mean that another more talented quarterback like Clausen can’t edge out Palmer.
Via John Mullinn of CSN Chicago:
"Clausen was a late-offseason pickup, and multiple indicators suggest that he has made major strides, unusual in any offseason, particularly given the amount of time Clausen has been a Bear. In short, he has developed in some of the same key areas that Palmer has progressed."
And the oddest thing happened when Jimmy Clausen signed with the Bears. Jay Cutler, known for his cold outward appearance, welcome Jimmy Clausen with open arms — not literally of course, Cutler would never do that.
“He came in here and got Jay on the phone right away and Jay reached him and they reached out to each other when [Clausen] heard he was going to sign and they spent the whole weekend together learning the playbook so that he had the best opportunity to stick with the team post the vet minicamp,” said general manager Phil Emery.
There may be a pecking order, but it’s a malleable one. The Bears backup quarterback battle will be one worth monitoring.