ESPN Chicago reports Jimmy Clausen "appears poised" to unseat Jordan Palmer for No. 2 quarterback duties behind Jay Cutler.

Clausen reportedly "quickly gained ground" on Palmer at minicamp and appears to be in the driver's seat for the backup job. It's an important competition because Cutler has missed 13 starts the past four seasons. Considering the magic coach Marc Trestman worked with last year's backup, Josh McCown, it could be a real chance for Clausen to get his career back on its tracks.

ESPN Chicago confirms Jimmy Clausen is a threat to Jordan Palmer's backup job with the Bears.

This is a position battle to monitor after Marc Trestman worked wonders with Josh McCown in 2013, resurrecting McCown's career with a 13:1 TD-to-INT ratio. Palmer practiced poorly during OTAs and minicamp, while Clausen has history with Trestman. Assuming he makes the 53, rookie David Fales is ticketed for third-string duties regardless of the No. 2 quarterback winner.

According to ESPN Chicago, Jimmy Clausen "caught the staff's attention" during the Bears' three-day minicamp, while (No. 2 quarterback Jordan) Palmer appeared to struggle."

Coach Marc Trestman confirmed afterwards that Clausen will go with the team to training camp, while Jerrod Johnson was left behind. Chicago will enter camp with four rostered quarterbacks: Clausen, Jay Cutler, David Fales, and Palmer. If Clausen is truly humbled, he could be a sleeper to win the top backup job.

Bears signed QB Jimmy Clausen.

The former second-round bust will immediately be in the mix to back up Jay Cutler. Clausen joins Jordan Palmer and sixth-rounder David Fales in the battle for No. 2 and 3 duties. Clausen hasn't taken a single regular-season snap since his disastrous 2010 rookie season in Carolina, but will be working with one of the league's best quarterback coaches in Marc Trestman. Clausen is recovering from a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, but wouldn't have been signed were he not on pace to be ready for camp.

Free agent QB Jimmy Clausen is currently recovering from a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.

Clausen spent last season on injured reserve. It had previously been unknown what injury Clausen had been dealing with, but he underwent surgery on September 11. Clausen hasn't attempted a single pass since his disaster 2010 rookie season. He wants a chance to compete for backup duties somewhere.

Updating a previous item, the Panthers waived/injured Jimmy Clausen.

Clausen will spend the final year of his rookie contract on injured reserve unless he gets bought out with an injury settlement at some point.

Panthers waived QB Jimmy Clausen and TE Zack Pianalto.

Clausen never played a snap for the Panthers after his brutal 2010 rookie year, where he demonstrated a sub-average arm and maddening tendency to get "small" in the pocket. He's 26 years old now and has shown no signs of ever developing into even a backup-caliber quarterback. Clausen's Carolina career ends with three touchdown passes, nine interceptions, nine fumbles, and a 1-9 record.

Jimmy Clausen's 2013 salary jumped from $575,000 to $630,000 based on rookie-deal incentives.

Clausen hasn't appeared in a game since 2010, the year he proved to be a colossal bust as the No. 48 overall pick. His 2013 salary is fully guaranteed, and with backup Derek Anderson hitting free agency, Clausen could be elevated to Cam Newton's primary backup in 2013. He'll be a free agent in 2014.

ESPN's John Clayton says it's "pretty safe to say" Jimmy Clausen has zero trade value.

We wouldn't disagree. Clayton isn't as in-touch as he once was, but it's confirmation the rest of the league has soured on the prospects of Clausen ever making something of himself as well. With No. 2 Derek Anderson a free agent, Clausen could be elevated to Cam Newton's backup next year. Clausen's rookie deal runs dry after the 2013 season.

Derek Anderson is "still ahead" of Jimmy Clausen in the competition to back-up Cam Newton.

It's a troubling sign for Clausen's future, though he could still move ahead of Anderson with a strong preseason. Despite Panthers coach Ron Rivera's June musing to the contrary, Clausen won't ever sniff another NFL starting job.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera believes Jimmy Clausen will get another chance to start in the NFL.

Barring injury to Cam Newton, it won't happen in Carolina, of course. "The kid's got a good arm, he's an accurate passer, he's learned a lot, and I think if he continues to grow this season he's going to get his opportunity," Rivera said. Clausen had one of the worst rookie seasons of all time in 2010, and won't generate interest as a starter when his rookie deal runs out in 2014.

Contrary to previous reports, Panthers QB Jimmy Clausen does not have a $923,000 roster bonus due on March 27.

The $923,000 was a "one-time" bonus that Clausen would have triggered by hitting performance and playing-time incentives. After riding the pine as a third-stringer last year, those benchmarks were not met. Without a bonus, Clausen has a better chance of staying on the roster.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera says Jimmy Clausen is "in the mix" to return in 2012.

Due a $923,000 roster bonus on March 27, Clausen is a strong candidate for release after being inactive for all 16 games in 2011, but Rivera insists "he's most certainly a guy that's in the mix in terms of coming back next year and competing." The Panthers are reportedly in the market for backup with a skill-set more similar to Cam Newton's, so if Clausen's back, it will again be as the third-stringer.

The Panthers can clear over $1 million in salary cap space by waiving Jimmy Clausen next month.

Clausen is due a $923,000 roster bonus on March 27. He spent 2011 as Carolina's third-stringer, inactive on all 16 game days after failing to beat out Derek Anderson for the Panthers' backup job. The Panthers are up against the cap, and need to shed $9.6 million before the new league year (March 13).

Panthers declared QB Jimmy Clausen, CB Darius Butler, S Jordan Pugh, RB Mike Goodson, TE Richie Brockel, OT Lee Ziemba, and DT Frank Kearse inactive for Week 8 against the Vikings.

Panthers declared QB Jimmy Clausen inactive for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Clausen loses out to Derek Anderson for the No. 2 job behind Cam Newton. Other Panthers inactives: CB Josh Thomas, FB Jerome Felton, LB Jason Williams, OT Lee Ziemba and WR Kealoha Pilares.

Coach Rob Rivera still hasn't decided between Jimmy Clausen and Derek Anderson for the backup quarterback job.

Jimmy Clausen appears to have lost the Panthers' backup job to Derek Anderson.

Anderson relieved Cam Newton in the second quarter, completing 11-of-19 passes for 192 yards and a 41-yard touchdown pass to David Clowney. Clausen's performance, on the other hand, was "disastrous." He threw an interception on his first pass, lost a fumble that led to a Steelers touchdown, and was sacked three times. Newton is going to have a longer leash than expected.

Jimmy Clausen was held out of Panthers practice on Saturday with a knee injury.

The injury is not believed to be serious. The bigger news for Clausen on Saturday was that the Panthers have decided to go with Cam Newton as their starting quarterback in their preseason finale on Thursday. Barring injury to the No. 1 overall pick, Clausen appears destined to open the season as a backup.

Jimmy Clausen completed 9-of-15 passes for 69 yards in the Panthers' second preseason game Friday night.

Derek Anderson didn't play, while Cam Newton managed only a slightly worse yards-per-pass attempt average and completion rate than Clausen against better defenders. Clausen is making this quarterback battle into a situation where the Panthers may as well throw their rookie into the fire because Newton is at least the lesser of two evils. There's little reason to play Clausen, unless you're of the belief that rookie QBs "develop" better on the bench.