Here's why the Bears decided to dump backup QB Jimmy Clausen

On Monday, the Chicago Bears announced that they had waived backup quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

#Bears have waived QB Jimmy Clausen and promoted QB David Fales to active roster.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 23, 2015

Clausen, 28, wasn't the worst backup for starting quarterback Jay Cutler. He was a second-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2010, and he has some starting experience. Earlier this year, Clausen started a game against the Seattle Seahawks with Cutler resting a hamstring injury.

So, why did the Bears just dump an experienced backup? According to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune, they did it to protect third-string quarterback David Fales.

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Before bringing Fales up to replace Clausen, he was fair game for any other team that wanted to sign him off the Bears' practice squad. Now that he's on Chicago's active roster, no one can touch him.

The Bears drafted Fales out of San Jose State in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft, so the move protects one of the team's investments at a key position. Clausen may be the better backup quarterback today, but Chicago's decision to move forward with Fales was made with the future in mind.