With Justin Fields dealing with a right-hand injury, the Chicago Bears are making a move at quarterback.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Bears are signing veteran Trace McSorley to their practice squad.
In coming to Chicago, the 28-year-old McSorley joins a Bears quarterbacks room that in addition to Fields also includes rookie Tyler Bagent and veteran Nathan Peterman. With Fields doubtful for Chicago’s Week 7 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, Bagent is in line to get the first start of his NFL career, with Peterman likely to serve as his backup.
“No, that’s not been ruled out. It’s doubtful still,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said of Fields’ status on Monday, per NFL.com. “Like I said, for this week it looks like it’s doubtful. But we’ll see at the end of the week and see where it goes. I know he’s a fast healer.”
An undrafted rookie from Shepherd University, Bagent received the first regular-season action of his NFL career on Sunday, completing 10 of his 14 pass attempts for 83 yards and an interception and a rushing touchdown after Fields exited the 19-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings with his injury.
As for McSorley, the Penn State product most recently spent the past preseason with the New England Patriots before being waived ahead of the start of the regular season.
Selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, he appeared in three games in three years with the franchise before being signed off the team’s practice squad by the Arizona Cardinals midway through the 2021 campaign. In 2022, he received the most extensive playing time of his NFL career, appearing in six games — including one start — for the Cardinals, completing 54.2 percent of his passes for 412 yards, zero touchdowns and five interceptions. He signed with the Patriots as a free agent following the 2022 season.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.