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Trent Edwards, Chicago Bears reach one-year contract

The search for a quality backup passer behind Jay Cutler rages on.

The Chicago Bears announced Sunday that Trent Edwards has been signed to a one-year contract, adding him to a pool of reserves that includes Josh McCown, Jordan Palmer and Matt Blanchard. Financial terms were not disclosed.

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It's another clear signal the Bears have no interest in making JaMarcus Russell a part of the team. Edwards and Palmer joined Russell for a June workout with the team. But when Blanchard fractured a knuckle on his non-throwing hand against the San Diego Chargers, the Bearsopted for Palmer rather than the 2007 No. 1 overall draft pick.

Edwards hasn't started a game since 2010, but he spent last season with the Philadelphia Eagles behind Michael Vick and Nick Foles. The Eagles cut Edwards in April, and he generated little interest on the open market despite once being seen as the future of the Buffalo Bills, who added the former Stanford passer in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

Bears coach Mark Trestman continues to tinker with Cutler, who -- like a horse with blinders on -- completed all five of his passes to Brandon Marshall in Thursday's preseason win over the Chargers. The cast of quarterbacks behind Cutler are a questionable lot, and we probably haven't seen the last of the roster shuffle.

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