Browns News: P.J. Walker Agrees to Practice Squad Contract After Bears Release

Veteran quarterback P.J. Walker agreed to join the Cleveland Browns' practice squad on Wednesday after the Chicago Bears released him on Sunday.

Walker had signed a two-year, $4.15 million deal with the Bears this offseason, with over $2 million in guarantees.

While that made his release a disappointment, it didn't come as a major surprise.

The 28-year-old was expected to serve as Justin Fields' backup but struggled throughout training camp and the preseason, while undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent played well and eventually seized the backup role over both Walker and Nathan Peterman, who was also cut.

The writing was on the wall for Walker after he didn't play in the team's final preseason game until the fourth quarter, though he did finish 6-of-11 for 71 yards and a touchdown.

But it was Bagent who came into the game after Fields, not Walker.

"I ain't a fool," he told reporters at the time "I can read the room. I know what it is. It's a business, and if you ain't performing, you ain't going to be able to play. So, for me it's just go out there, perform at a high level or you don't play. That's what it is."

Walker started five games and made 11 total appearances for the Carolina Panthers last season, throwing for 731 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions while taking seven sacks and completing just 59.4 percent of his passes.

The Panthers were 2-3 in his starts and cycled through Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold as well last season at the position before trading up to land the top overall pick in this year's draft and select Alabama's Bryce Young.

As for the Browns, they had their own rookie impress at camp and win the backup job, as Dorian Thompson-Robinson won the gig behind Deshaun Watson, leading to Kellen Mond's release. Mond was a candidate to return to the team in a practice squad role before Walker's addition.