The Carolina Panthers signed XFL star quarterback P.J. Walker on Monday, marking their second noteworthy quarterback signing of the offseason.
Former Saints backup Teddy Bridgewater signed a multi-year deal with the club in the first wave of free agency.
The Bears had reportedly been in play for Bridgewater, but the former first-round pick chose the Panthers, in theory, because of the uncontested path to the starting job. And while there's been nothing to suggest Chicago was interested in Walker, he used the XFL's shortened season to establish himself as a worthy developmental backup in the NFL.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Chicago sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Walker was 119-of-184 (65%), for 1,338 yards, 15 passing TD and 4 INT in five games for the Houston Roughnecks. His previous stint in the NFL lasted two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts (2017-18) where he served mostly as a practice squad player.
In Carolina, Walker has a chance to become Bridgewater's primary backup. The Panthers are shopping Cam Newton on the trade market and will likely release the former league MVP if a trade can't be reached.
The Bears will enter the next phase of the offseason with Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles as the '1' and '1a' at quarterback. GM Ryan Pace could still add another arm via the 2020 NFL draft. If he does, it's likely to be a prospect who slips to the later rounds.