Broncos in the NFL: Former Boise State QB signs with the fifth team of his short career

A former Boise State quarterback is expected to suit up for the fifth team of his NFL career this year.

Brett Rypien has signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears, the team announced Wednesday. Rypien, 27, was on three teams last season: Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks.

Rypien originally signed with the Rams last May. He was released and re-signed as part of the team’s practice squad in August, and was promoted to the active roster in September. He was released in November after losing his only start of the season in a 20-3 setback against the Packers.

The Seahawks signed him to their practice squad not long after he was released and promoted him to the active roster in late November. The Jets signed Rypien off of Seattle’s practice squad in November. He didn’t appear in a game for the Seahawks or Jets.

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Rypien went undrafted in 2019 and signed with the Denver Broncos. He spent spent the first four seasons of his career with the Broncos and went 2-1 in three starts.

In Chicago, Rypien joins a team that has some big decisions to make at quarterback. The Bears have the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, which they could use on a number of former star college quarterbacks: USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels or North Carolina’s Drake Maye.

The Bears also could exercise the fifth-year option on QB Justin Fields’ rookie deal. Teams have until May 2 to exercise fifth-year options, and Fields has been the subject of many trade possibilities.

Rypien was a four-year starter at Boise State from 2015 to 2018. He was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 and ended his college career ranked No. 2 in program history in career passing yards (13,581), passing touchdowns (90) and completions (1,036).