Chicago Bears Add Veteran QB Todd Collins

The Chicago Bears have added some depth in their QB position.  Behind starting quarterback Jay Cutler will now be veteran Todd Collins.  This move was one that the Bears desperately needed especially since in the preseason, Caleb Hanie suffered an injury to his shoulder.  Collins signed a one-year deal with the Bears to secure at least a single season rather than being a backup for a few weeks and then being cut, which was what he feared.

38-year-old Collins was originally drafted in the 1995 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills and his most recent team was the Washington Redskins.  However, despite how long he has been in the NFL, he only has a total of 20 starts for his career.

As for other backups for Cutler, who has started 53 games since his Denver Broncos debut in 2006, once Hanie’s shoulder heals thoroughly he will be the primary backup.  Until then, Collins could possibly acquire the No. 2 quarterback position and he is familiar with the new style of offense that the Bears have been learning.

Signs point toward Cutler being the starting quarterback for the season with both Hanie (once recovered, which could be another week or longer) as well as Collins as the two backups for Cutler.  Rookie Dan LeFevour, drafted out of the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, is expected to have some playing time in there somewhere but mainly on the practice squad.  Matt Gutierrez, on the other hand, is going to have to show some major signs of improvement if he wishes to stay.