Jimmy Clausen to miss final Bears game because of concussion

Jimmy Clausen will not play in the Chicago Bears’ final game of the season after the fifth-year quarterback began to show concussion symptoms Sunday evening after a 20-14 loss to the Detroit Lions.

The Bears reported that Clausen, who made his first start since his rookie season in 2010 with the Carolina Panthers, showed no signs of a concussion during or immediately after the game, during which he took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah late in the fourth quarter when scrambling for a two-yard gain.

Clausen quickly jumped to his feet and had some words for Ansah, who was penalized for unnecessary roughness.

The Bears reported that Clausen was checked for concussion symptoms after the play and after the game, as per NFL protocol, but that he showed no signs of a head injury. He started experiencing concussion-like symptoms in the evening and called Bears trainers as he had been instructed.

Clausen kept the Bears in the game against the Lions by completing 23 of 39 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns. He had one pass intercepted.

The former star at Oaks Christian High in Westlake Village and Notre Dame was given his first start in four seasons when starter Jay Cutler continued to struggle for the Bears, who were expected to be playoff contenders but go into next week’s finale against the Minnesota Vikings with a record of 5-10.