The Bears’ recent decision to add P.J. Walker to their quarterback room has resulted in a corresponding move. Per the transaction wire, Chicago has released journeyman signal-caller Trevor Siemian.
The 31-year-old had one year remaining on the contract he signed last offseason. That deal with the Bears brought him to his fourth career NFL home. Siemian’s Chicago pact offered him the latest in a string of backup roles after he previously held clipboards with the Jets and Saints. His career has seen little continuity since his tenure as the Broncos’ starter came to an end in 2017.
Siemian joined a Bears team which had just affirmed Justin Fields as the undisputed starter heading into the season, which limited the veteran's exposure to just one start and two appearances. The veteran completed 57% of his passes and complied a passer rating of 76.4 in that short space.
No guaranteed money was due to the former fourth-rounder in 2023, making this release an easy one on the Bears’ part. Cutting Siemian will result in $1.965M in savings while generating a dead money charge of $500K. Turning to Walker will give the team a younger option in the QB2 role, though he doesn't offer much more in the way of tangible upside.
Now a member of the free agent pool, Siemian faces a shrinking number of potential suitors. The past few days have seen a slew of backup quarterback moves, as teams set up their rosters ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. That could leave Siemian waiting a while for his next pro opportunity.
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