The Chicago Bears are using Jimmy Clausen as the backup for Jay Cutler this season at quarterback, with Marc Trestman option to let Jordan Palmer go while also keeping David Fales as the third stringer heading into the final preseason game and start of the 2014 regular season.

According to ESPN.com and Pro Football Talk, the Bears are optiong to go with Clausen over Palmer after the former Carolina Panthers and Notre Dame quarterback played a bit better in the preseason. Clausen started 10 games back in 2010, but once Cam Newton came to Carolina his career was over with the Panthers and now he has the chance to stick with the Bears as the backup for Cutler.

Last season the backup quarterback position was a very important one, as Jay Cutler missed time and Josh McCown was forced to come in and he played well during that time. McCown played so well that some thought the Bears should stick with him, but the team did not do that and now he has a shiny new contract and a starting job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Clausen last had regular playing time as a rookie, completing just over half of his passes along with nine interceptions and three touchdowns. Head coach Marc Trestman also added quarterback David Fales in the sixth round of the draft from San Jose State and he should be in as the third string quarterback behind Cutler and Clausen. The Bears won their first two preseason games against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars before losing to the Seattle Seahawks, while an away game with the Cleveland Browns is the final game of the preseason.