LAKE FOREST, Ill. — With Justin Fields’ status for this week and perhaps longer up in the air due to an injury, the Bears are adding another quarterback to their roster.

Trace McSorley is coming to Chicago to do what he’s mostly done since entering the league four years ago.

The Bears confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that they’ve reached a deal for the signal caller to join their practice squad.

This comes as Fields is dealing with a thumb injury that he suffered in the third quarter of the Bears’ loss to the Vikings on Sunday at Soldier Field. On Monday, head coach Matt Eberflus said that the starting quarterback is doubtful as the team waits for the swelling around the thumb to reduce.

That means McSorley would serve as the third or emergency quarterback for the Bears should Fields not be able to play. Rookie Tyson Bagent would get his first career start against the Raiders with Nathan Peterman serving as his backup if the starter is out.

A three-time All-Big Ten second team selection at Penn State, McSorley was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. During his 2 1/2 seasons in Baltimore, he was mostly the third string quarterback, seeing time as a reserve in three games while making only ten pass attempts.

McSorley was signed off the Ravens’ practice squad by the Cardinals in November 2021 but didn’t see any game action. In 2022, he’d play in six games and started against the Buccaneers in Week 16 in place of the injured Kyler Murray.

In that contest, McSorley was 24-of-45 for 217 yards with an interception in a 19-16 defeat, and was benched in favor of David Blough the next week. He’d see playing time in the season finale against the 49ers as a backup.

This offseason, McSorley was signed to a one-year deal by the Patriots but was released before the season.