The Bears have a new backup quarterback after waiving Jimmy Clausen and elevating David Fales from the practice squad to the active roster Monday.
| David Fales was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the 2014 draft out of San Jose State. |
Coach John Fox said the move was made after another NFL team had showed interest in claiming Fales off the Bears' practice squad.
Fales was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the 2014 draft out of San Jose State. He has split time between the 53-man roster and practice squad the past two seasons, but has not played in a regular-season game.
This summer, Fales didn't practice until the final day of training camp due to an undisclosed illness. But he excelled as the starter in the preseason finale against the Browns, completing 14 of 18 passes for 131 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 134.0 passer rating.
Fales was a productive two-year starter at San Jose State, where the 6-1, 228-pounder passed for 4,193 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2012 and 4,189 yards and 33 TDs in 2013. In 2012, Fales led the FBS in completion percentage (72.5) and was named MVP of the Military Bowl after passing for 395 yards and two TDs in a 29-21 win over Bowling Green.
Clausen appeared in six games with two starts over the past two seasons with the Bears, connecting on 49 of 88 passes for 407 yards with two TDs, two interceptions and a 65.9 passer rating. In six-plus quarters this season in place of the injured Cutler, Clausen completed 23 of 40 passes for 184 yards with one interception and a 58.8 passer rating.
