Bears sign veteran quarterback Josh McCown in wake of Jay Cutler concussion
LAKE FOREST, Ill. The Chicago Bears have signed veteran backup quarterback Josh McCown with Jay Cutler's status for this week uncertain.
Cutler sat out the second half of Sunday's loss to Houston with a concussion. Jason Campbell took over and is expected to start Monday at San Francisco if Cutler can't go. But the Bears needed a backup.
McCown appeared in three games with Chicago last season and made two starts, completing 35 of 55 passes for 414 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.
As CBSSports.com's Josh Katzowitz notes, McCown was the team's third-string quarterback last year, and he was elevated to No. 2 when Cutler suffered a season-ending injury and Caleb Hanie took over as starter. But Hanie was so bad in leading the Bears to an 0-4 record that McCown started the final two games of the season, going 1-1.
The Bears also waived tight end Brody Eldridge on Tuesday.