The Chicago Bears plan to start Jimmy Clausen at quarterback this week over Jay Cutler, according to a report.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter says a source tells him Clausen will be the guy.
The Bears are 5-9 and have lost three in a row. The benching comes amid a season where Cutler leads the league with 18 interceptions. He looked so bad in a loss to the Saints on Monday night that commentator Jon Gruden argued the team should have benched him for Clausen. Apparently the Bears took note.
Though the benching is a shocker given the widespread belief that Cutler is one of the more capable quarterbacks in the league — and the fact that the team signed him a to a huge deal — a recent report said the team considered the possibility of benching Cutler weeks ago.
This decision by the Bears makes you wonder whether the team will cut or trade the quarterback after the season. Cutler is guaranteed $15.5 million in 2015. He has been the team’s quarterback since 2009, leading them to the NFC Championship Game in 2010 — his only postseason appearance in his six seasons in Chicago.
Ironically, Cutler’s benching comes in a season where he has completed 66.1 percent of his passes and thrown for 28 touchdowns, both of which are career-high marks.
Back in June, a report stated that Clausen caught the eye of the Bears’ coaching staff. Maybe they want to see what he can do to properly assess his value.
