No way the Bears didn't know who their third-string QB was Sunday

The Bears say they didn’t know who their quarterback would have been had Jimmy Clausen gotten hurt Sunday in relief of Jay Cutler, injured earlier in the game.

That’s almost impossible to believe.

This is a league in which every detail is studied as if it holds the key to the universe. It’s a league in which coaches cover their mouths on the sideline so opponents can’t read their lips. It’s a league in which coaches work 18 hours a day.

Now, who was the Bears’ third-string quarterback Sunday?

“That’s a good question,’’ coach John Fox said after the game. “I’ll get back to you.’’

Clausen got the same question.

“I couldn’t go down,’’ he said.

The Bears’ real third-string quarterback, David Fales, is on the practice squad and wasn’t eligible to play against Arizona. They probably would have turned to tight end Zach Miller, who played quarterback at Nebraska-Omaha, or wide receiver Cameron Meredith, who played quarterback at Illinois State.

NFL coaching staffs are prepared for any contingency, whether it be a safety blitz or a meteor strike.

Either the Bears didn’t want to share their top-secret strategy or they couldn’t bear the thought of a tight end at quarterback. But unprepared? No way.