Campbell brings huge upgrade as Bears backup QB

Tuesday night’s addition of ex-Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell to a one-year contract gives the Bears a huge upgrade over the backups they’ve had the past three years: Caleb Hanie, Todd Collins and Josh McCown.

Only McCown played at a level approaching mediocrity.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Campbell, the Washington Redskins’ first-round pick (25th overall) in 2006, has started 70 NFL games, throwing 74 TD passes and 50 interceptions for an 82.8 passer rating. He was 4-2 as the starter in Oakland last season until suffering a season-ending fractured right collarbone.

Hanie, an unrestricted free agent, won’t be re-signed. McCown, also unrestricted, could be re-signed to battle last year’s fifth-round pick, Nathan Enderle, for the No. 3 QB spot.

ŸJust one hour before he was to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent, cornerback Tim Jennings re-signed with the Bears.

Jennings, 28, has just 3 interceptions over the past two seasons, but he was fourth on the team last season with 87 tackles and tied for second with 8 pass breakups. “I didn’t want to go anywhere else,” Jennings told the Bears’ website. “I think the deal was fair.”

ŸUnrestricted free-agent linebacker and special-teams standout Blake Costanzo signed a two-year deal with the Bears. The five-year veteran was second on the San Francisco 49ers with 17 special-teams tackles last season.