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Jimmy Clausen

This Date In Transactions History: Jimmy Clausen Signs With Bears

July 6th, 2019 at 11:57am CST by Ben Levine

When Jimmy Clausen‘s tenure with the Panthers ended in 2014, it was uncertain if the quarterback would have a chance to continue his NFL career. However, on June 6th, 2014, the former Notre Dame standout inked a prove-it deal with the Bears, and Clausen ended up parlaying that gig into an additional NFL contract.

Back in 2010, there was hope within the Panthers organization that their second-round rookie quarterback would eventually unseat Matt Moore and lead the organization back to the playoffs. Fortunately, part of that ended up happening; unfortunately, the results were less-than-stellar. The quarterback started 10 games as rookie, but he only managed to complete 52.5-percent of his passes for 1,558 yards, three touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a whopping nine fumbles.

The Panthers’ 2010 season was filled with plenty of turmoil, including an incident where veteran wideout Steve Smith was caught screaming at the rookie quarterback. The team ended up finishing the season was a 2-14 record, and the organization used their subsequent first-overall pick on quarterback Cam Newton. As a result, Clausen was relegated to a backup role, and he continued to slide down the depth chart following the Panthers’ signing of Derek Anderson.

Clausen didn’t see the field during the 2011 or 2012 campaign, and he was waived by the Panthers following the 2013 season (he eventually landed on Carolina’s injured reserve). That effectively ended the quarterback’s stint with the Panthers, and it appeared that his NFL future was on life support.

However, on this day five years ago, Clausen was given another chance. Thanks in part to his previous relationship with Bears head coach Marc Trestman, Clausen earned a contract from Chicago. The quarterback was set to compete with Jordan Palmer and David Fales for the backup spot behind Jay Cutler, with Clausen eventually winning the competition. He ended up getting one start during the 2014 season, as he completed 23 of his 39 pass attempts for 181 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in a loss to the Lions.

The Bears were apparently happy with Clausen’s performance as a backup, and they re-signed him for the 2015 season. However, with Chicago struggling, the organization decided to give Fales a longer look, so the organization waived the journeyman. However, Clausen ended up getting claimed by the Ravens, where he got a pair of starts during the stretch run of the season. Clausen ultimately finished the 2015 season having completed 57.6-percent of his passes for 739 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions.

Following that two-year run as a solid backup quarterback, Clausen’s career ended unceremoniously. However, if it wasn’t for the transaction five years ago today, there’s a good chance that the quarterback’s career would have ended even earlier.

Cowboys Interested In Nick Foles, Other QBs

August 3rd, 2016 at 2:30pm CST by Zachary Links

2:30pm: The Cowboys are considering other free agent options, including Jimmy Clausen, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

For what it’s worth, the Bucs reportedly are not shopping Glennon, nor have they received calls on him as of late.

2:08pm: Cowboys executive Vice President Stephen Jones said the Cowboys have been in talks with the agent for free agent quarterback Nick Foles, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. However, the team is looking at multiple options to replace Moore. Jones said the Cowboys want to sign a backup QB “sooner rather than later,” but they want to get it right too.

1:47pm: The Cowboys are one of a handful of teams in on Foles, sources tell Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (on Twitter). He could sign somewhere as early as today, Garafolo adds.

9:15am: The Cowboys are back in the market for a veteran quarterback. Following Kellen Moore‘s ankle fracture, the Cowboys are considering Nick Foles as an option and discussing trades for other QBs, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com. Josh McCown of the Browns and Buccaneers QB Mike Glennon could also be considered by Dallas. Nick Foles (vertical)

[RELATED: Cowboys QB Kellen Moore Suffers Injury]

Recently, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones shot down the notion that the Cowboys would contact Foles, saying that the club would instead turn to its internal options. However, Moore’s injury has changed everything. With Tony Romo‘s primary backup sidelined, Dallas is left with only rookie Dak Prescott and 2015 UDFA addition Jameill Showers. If the Cowboys still intend on the recovering Romo taking every third practice session off, they’ll need to add a capable QB quickly.

McCown‘s status with the Browns has been in some dispute with some reports indicating that the club would only trade McCown if they received a tremendous offer. Meanwhile, other roster projections have had McCown left off of the 53-man roster. After waiving Connor Shaw earlier this summer, the Browns now field Robert Griffin III, McCown, Austin Davis, and third-round rookie Cody Kessler on their depth chart, as Roster Resource shows. McCown was thought to be a trade candidate earlier this offseason, with the Broncos among the teams that reportedly expressed interest. If Cleveland ends up releasing McCown, the team would save nearly $3.4MM on its salary cap.

Glennon, the backup to Jameis Winston, has not played since 2014 and was speculated as a trade target for quarterback-needy teams this spring. The 2013 third-round pick is entering his contract year and may view the Cowboys as a team that would give him a better chance to play given Romo’s health issues. The Bucs reportedly turned down a second-round pick for Glennon in March.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Lions To Work Out Jimmy Clausen

July 24th, 2016 at 5:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jimmy Clausen‘s Monday workout tour will venture west from Washington D.C., with the well-traveled backup set to audition for the Lions, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Similarly to his Redskins showcase, Clausen will throw to visiting wide receivers on Monday in Detroit, reports the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett, who adds (Twitter link) the Lions are finalizing a list of pass-catchers who will participate in the workout.

The 28-year-old Clausen threw to free agent Marlon Brown, among others in a group that included soon-to-be Redskins signing Dez Stewart, in Washington. Lions GM Bob Quinn hasn’t made it a secret his team was looking to add prospective veteran help late in the offseason. The team has been linked to Anquan Boldin and had a visit scheduled with Arian Foster before the veteran running back signed with the Dolphins prior to heading to Detroit.

The Lions possess the seventh-most cap space in the NFL at $19.3MM and don’t have a particularly deep stable of passers behind Matthew Stafford, as Roster Resource shows. Longtime Lion Dan Orlovsky resides behind the starter, with sixth-round pick Jake Rudock joining the group as well.

A former second-round Panthers pick out of Notre Dame, Clausen went 1-9 as a starter in 2010 for the Panthers, and once the team drafted Cam Newton, the former highly regarded prospect’s place as a backup quarterback became entrenched. The Bears waived Clausen last November, and the quarterback-depleted Ravens claimed him. Clausen started three games last season for the Bears and Ravens, losing all three while completing 57% of his passes and throwing two touchdown passes and four interceptions.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Redskins Sign WR Dez Stewart

July 18th, 2016 at 5:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Following a tryout earlier today, the Redskins have signed free agent wide receiver Dez Stewart, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Washington has since confirmed the transaction.Redskins Helmet (Vertical)

[RELATED: Latest on Washington’s cornerback battle]

Stewart was evidently a part of a morning Redskins workout session that included quarterback Jimmy Clausen and wide receiver Marlon Brown. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that other pass-catchers were involved in the tryout, and given that Stewart was signed to a contract, Brown (and the other receivers present) might be out of luck. Washington, which now has a full 90-man offseason roster, already has a well-stocked group of receivers, as Roster Resource shows the club boasting DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder, first-round pick Josh Doctson, and others on its depth chart.

An undrafted free agent out of Ohio Dominican, Stewart signed with the Buccaneers in May, only to be placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter — he was waived off IR in early June. The 6’2″, 200-pound Stewart accumulated more than 3,000 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns across 40 career collegiate games, and also excelled as a kick returner, a role he might need to play to earn a spot on the Redskins’ roster.

Meanwhile, Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets that Clausen’s presence at the workout shoudn’t raise any eyebrows, as the former second-round pick was simply in attendance to throw passes. However, Clausen is on Washington’s emergency list should something happen to one of their current quarterbacks, a list that includes Kirk Cousins, Colt McCoy, and Zach Sudfeld.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Redskins Audition Jimmy Clausen

July 18th, 2016 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins worked out free agent quarterback Jimmy Clausen today, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Along with Clausen, the Redskins also worked out former Ravens wide receiver Marlon Brown, among other pass-catchers (Twitter link).

Jimmy Clausen

[RELATED: Download The Must-Have Trade Rumors App Today]

As Rapoport notes, Clausen stands as of the top free agent quarterbacks available with starting experience. Clausen served as the Bears’ primary backup in 2014 and got a start in Week 17 of that season when the team was testing out Jay Cutler alternatives. In 2015, Clausen was called into action once again after Cutler went down with an injury. In two games (one start) for the Bears, Clausen completed 23 of 40 passes for 184 yards and an interception.

Later in the year, the Bears waived the Notre Dame product, but he was quickly picked up by the Ravens, who needed a fill-in for Joe Flacco. The Broncos – who were having QB issues of their own – also put in a claim on Clausen, but they were beaten to the punch. Clausen would appear in three games for the Ravens with two starts. In that stretch, he completed 49 of 85 passes for a 57.6% completion rate and threw for two touchdowns against three interceptions.

As the Redskins’ page on Roster Resource shows, Washington currently has Colt McCoy and sixth-round rookie Nate Sudfeld on the depth chart behind starter Kirk Cousins.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC North Notes: Whitner, Pryor, Ravens, Bengals

December 12th, 2015 at 12:50pm CST by Rob DiRe

Between a league-worst record and the mishandling of Johnny Manziel, Browns head coach Mike Pettine is definitely a candidate to be replaced this offseason in Cleveland. At least one veteran doesn’t want to see that happen, in Donte Whitner, who believes the staff deserves another year to right the ship, writes Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal.

“Sometimes it’s not greener on the other side. Sometimes you have to stick it out to get to where you want to get to,” Whitner said. “Who’s to say we couldn’t come out next season with the same coaching staff being in the third year in the system and run off a streak like the Carolina Panthers?”

Here are some more notes from around the AFC North:

  • Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor will make his first appearance this season at wide receiver for the Browns this Sunday against the 49ers, writes Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.“Terrelle looks good, I don’t know if he’s ready to take on a full role, but there’s a chance that there will be some involvement in the plan there,” said Pettine. “He’s just got to play (to get some experience). The credit to him, he came back in great shape, came back in really, really good shape and retained a lot of what we’re doing. You say, ‘Hey, it’s going to be sooner than later.’ More than likely, it’s going to be sooner.”
  • Matt Schaub hasn’t been ruled out of the Ravens’ game against the Seahawks this weekend, but signs are pointing to him not being able to play, writes Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The team has already promoted quarterback Bryn Renner to the active roster, and Jimmy Clausen is expected to start.
  • The Bengals will leave cornerback Adam Jones inactive this week, according to Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer (via Twitter). The corners on the roster will be Leon Hall, Josh Shaw, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Troy Hill this week.

Broncos Notes: Manning, Clausen, McDaniels

November 25th, 2015 at 9:44am CST by Zachary Links

As we heard on Tuesday, Peyton Manning is expected to be sidelined for at least the next two weeks as he continues his recovery from a plantar fascia tear, and if Brock Osweiler plays well in Manning’s absence, it seems likely that the future Hall-of-Famer will get even more time to recover. As Osweiler gets set for a Week 12 showdown with the Patriots, let’s check out the latest out of Denver….

  • A source close to Manning told Mike Klis of 9NEWS this week that the Broncos quarterback was “incensed” by a report claiming that he is making plans for 2016, with the Broncos or otherwise (all Twitter links). Klis notes that the 39-year-old did give some thought to retirement after last year, so historically he doesn’t consider his future plans during the season. Head coach Gary Kubiak was also dismissive of reports that Manning plans on playing in 2016, calling them “totally false.” Presumably that means the veteran quarterback simply hasn’t made a decision yet, and Kubiak’s not suggesting Manning has decided not to play in ’16.
  • Before making arrangements to work out Christian Ponder, the Broncos put a waiver claim in on Jimmy Clausen, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. However, the former Bears backup was instead awarded to the Ravens. Baltimore, of course, also had a need at quarterback after Joe Flacco went down with a season-ending ACL injury.
  • With a game in Denver coming up this Sunday night, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels reflected back on his time as the Broncos’ head coach, indicating that he’s thankful to the club for giving him that opportunity, as Jimmy Toscano of CSNNE.com details. “[I] wish we’d have done better,” McDaniels said. “But again I’ve learned a lot of different things after that experience, looking back on it, and hopefully it’s made me a better person and a better coach at the same time.”

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Ravens Claim Jimmy Clausen Off Waivers

November 24th, 2015 at 3:22pm CST by Luke Adams

As expected, the Ravens have nabbed a backup quarterback off waivers, claiming Jimmy Clausen from the Bears, the team announced today (via Twitter). In a corresponding move, the Ravens have placed Joe Flacco on injured reserve due to his torn ACL (Twitter link).

Clausen, 28, served primarily as the Bears’ backup signal-caller last year, getting a start in Week 17 when Marc Trestman wanted to see someone besides Jay Cutler lead the offense. Clausen re-signed with Chicago on a one-year deal back in March, and was forced into action again early in the season, when Jay Cutler went down with an injury. In two games (one start) for the Bears, Clausen completed 23 of 40 passes for 184 yards and an interception.

Given the connection to Trestman, who is now the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, there seemed to be a natural fit for Clausen in Baltimore, with the team needing a backup for Matt Schaub. The Ravens also had a fairly high waiver priority, given their 3-7 record, allowing the team to avoid being blocked from claiming Clausen.

When the Bears cut Clausen, they also promoted David Fales to their 53-man roster, with head coach John Fox explaining that the young QB had received interest from other teams. According to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link), those teams were the 49ers and the Ravens. So Baltimore tried to sign one signal-caller with a connection to Trestman, then ultimately settled for another.

Bears Waive Jimmy Clausen

November 23rd, 2015 at 12:52pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bears have made a change at the quarterback position, cutting backup signal-caller Jimmy Clausen and elevating David Fales from their practice squad to the 53-man roster, the team announced today (Twitter link). Clausen will become a free agent if he passes through waivers unclaimed.

Clausen, 28, served primarily as the Bears’ backup signal-caller last year, getting a start in Week 17 when Marc Trestman wanted to see someone besides Jay Cutler lead the offense. Clausen re-signed with the club on a one-year deal back in March, and was forced into action again early in the season, when Cutler went down with an injury. In two games (one start), Clausen completed 23 of 40 passes for 184 yards and an interception.

According to Bears head coach John Fox, the club wanted to promote Fales to the active roster because he was receiving interest from at least one other team (Twitter link via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune). By moving him from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, the Bears protect the young quarterback, avoiding the risk of losing him to another club.

It’s fair to wonder if the Ravens, who lost Joe Flacco for the season on Sunday, and employ Trestman as an offensive coordinator, were the team – or one of the teams – expressing interest in Fales. Now that Clausen is on waivers, it’s possible that the Trestman connection could come into play again, since Baltimore has a high waiver priority and is in the market for a backup to Matt Schaub.

NFC Notes: Alonso, Niners, Clausen

September 30th, 2015 at 11:34am CST by Luke Adams

Four NFC teams remain undefeated, and two of those are NFC South squads, which is surprising, considering no team in that division posted a .500 record in 2014. As the Falcons, Panthers, Packers, and Cardinals prepare to put their 3-0 records on the line this weekend, let’s check in on the latest out of the conference….

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