Trestman: Still 'Serious Competition' At QB2
(CBS) Two days before the Bears' first preseason game, Jordan Palmer and Jimmy Clausen remain in a "serious competition" for the backup quarterback job, Chicago coach Marc Trestman said Wednesday after practice.
"We feel Jimmy's in a competition with Jordan for the No. 2 position," Trestman said. "Jordan's going to play, and so is Jimmy on Friday night, and they'll continue to compete throughout camp."
Trestman lauded Clausen for picking up the Bears' system "very quickly" and said he's "thrown the ball well overall" and been "fairly consistent through practice, knowing where to go with the football," but the coach hasn't revealed who has the edge in the race for the job. A couple weeks ago, Trestman said Palmer would have "the first shot" to win the job because he's been with the Bears longer.
For his part, Clausen shot down any notion of there being pressure on what this opportunity means for his career, which has stalled as he hasn't attempted a pass in a regular-season game since 2010. Clausen called "every single day a job interview" -- be it for Chicago or one of the other 31 teams -- and added he feels as comfortable right now.
"I felt great," Clausen said of Wednesday's practice. "I felt confident. I feel like I know the system, not to where I want to know it or where I'd know it a year down the line from now. But I feel pretty comfortable getting in and out of plays, just executing what the coaches call and getting some first downs and putting points on the board."
Chicago hosts Philadelphia on Friday evening at Soldier Field.
