The Bears continued to re-sign their own players in advance of free agency, agreeing to one-year contracts Sunday with defensive tackle Nate Collins and quarterback Jordan Palmer.
Collins appeared in the first five games with two starts in 2013 before suffering a torn ACL in a Week 5 loss to the Saints. The 6-2, 296-pounder was placed on injured reserve after compiling a career-high 13 tackles, one sack and three quarterback hits.
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| Bears defensive tackle Nate Collins missed the final 11 games last season with a torn ACL. |
Collins has appeared in 27 NFL games with two starts over four seasons with the Jaguars (2010-11) and Bears (2012-13), recording 34 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two tackles-for-loss, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery.
Palmer originally signed with the Bears on Aug. 16, 2013 after third-string quarterback Matt Blanchard broke his hand. Palmer appeared in two preseason games, completing 12 of 18 passes for 116 yards with one touchdown and a 103.0 passer rating.
Palmer was cut before the start of the regular season, but he was re-signed Oct. 28 after Jay Cutler suffered a torn groin muscle in a Week 7 loss to the Redskins. Palmer spent the final nine weeks of the season on the Bears' 53-man roster, but he did not appear in a game.
Palmer has appeared in four NFL games-all during three seasons with the Bengals from 2008-10-completing 10 of 15 passes for 49 yards and two interceptions.
Since late December, the Bears have re-signed 12 players who were due to become unrestricted free agents at 3 p.m. Tuesday, most in the NFL. Collins and Palmer join quarterback Jay Cutler; center Roberto Garza; kicker Robbie Gould; cornerbacks Kelvin Hayden, Tim Jennings and Derrick Martin; defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff; tight end Dante Rosario; guard Matt Slauson and fullback Tony Fiammetta.
