Thursday 18 December 2014 10:20, UK
The Chicago Bears are benching struggling quarterback Jay Cutler in favour of back-up Jimmy Clausen against the Detroit Lions this Sunday, according to reports.
Cutler has been a huge disappointment for the 5-9 Bears this season and leads all quarterbacks with 24 turnovers.
In Monday’s 31-15 loss to the Saints, Cutler threw three interceptions, registered a season-low passer rating of 55.8 and was sacked a season-high seven times.
Although the Bears have yet to officially confirm the move, head coach Marc Trestman admitted on Wednesday that he has not been able to coax the best from Cutler.
"I think that's evident I haven't up to this point," Trestman said. "Am I working at it? Yes. We've seen moments, but we haven't done it on a consistent basis. I can't hide from that.
Clausen, 27, has appeared in three games for the Bears this season and completed three of nine passes.
He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2010 draft, going 1-9 as a starter that year, before he fell down the pecking order when Carolina drafted Cam Newton in 2011.
This move leaves Cutler facing an uncertain future in Chicago but the 31-year-old is due $15.5m in fully-guaranteed salary next season which will make him difficult to trade.
Cutler was signed to a $126.7m seven-year contract extension in the offseason but offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer was forced to issue a tearful apology to the team after leaking to the press that Bears had ‘buyer’s remorse’ about the deal.
