The Chicago Bears seem to have a better emergency plan in place for 2012 after signing Jason Campbell on Tuesday as their backup quarterback for next season.

The team's fortunes spiraled in 2011 after a 7-3 start that culminated with QB Jay Cutler's broken throwing thumb in Week 11. He never played again, and the Bears finished on a 1-5 skid behind understudies Caleb Hanie and Josh McCown.

Campbell has been a starter for most of a seven-year career split between the Redskins, who picked him in Round 1 of the 2005 draft, and Raiders. He was playing well in Oakland last year before a broken clavicle ended his season after six games and necessitated the trade for replacement Carson Palmer.

Campbell won four of six starts in 2011 and passed for 1,170 yards, six TDs and four INTs.

His acquisition was the Bears' second major move of the day. Earlier, they acquired WR Brandon Marshall from the Dolphins.