After sending one quarterback to the scrap heap, the Chicago Bears are about to welcome another one off it.
Third-stringer Tyler Thigpen is expected to make his first start since the 2008 season when the Miami Dolphins host the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.
Thigpen was pressed into action when Chad Pennington and Chad Henne were KO'd in Sunday's game and led an 85-yard scoring drive for an insurance touchdown in Miami's 29-17 victory over Tennessee.
It was the first home victory in four games for the Dolphins (5-4), but it came at a cost. Pennington, making his first start since September 2009, injured his thrice-surgically repaired shoulder and is lost for the season.
Henne, who had been benched after a pair of listless performances, then suffered a knee injury in the third quarter. He did not practice Tuesday but Miami coach Tony Sparano, in a bit of gamesmanship, refused to rule him out for Thursday's game.
The Bears, meanwhile, are coming off their best all-around performance in a 27-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings that all but served as an early retirement present for Brett Favre.
Chicago (6-3) moved into a tie with Green Bay atop the NFC North while dropping the Vikings three game behind the division co-leaders.
The Bears' defense turned in a stellar effort, intercepting Favre three times and limiting Adrian Peterson - the league's No. 2 rusher with 908 yards - to just 50 yards on 17 carries.
Chicago held Minnesota to 240 yards of total offense, presenting a daunting challenge for Thigpen, who had attempted just 14 passes in the past two seasons prior to his cameo performance against the Titans.
Thigpen finished 4 of 6 for 64 yards, including a clinching 9-yard scoring pass to tight end Anthony Fasano.
Now he will make his first start since the final game of the 2008 season with Kansas City, when injuries to the Chiefs’ top two quarterbacks also thrust him under center.
Thigpen acquitted himself fairly well with a woeful Kansas City team that season, throwing for 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and will look to spark a Miami offense that has struggled to get in the end zone and has settled for 13 field goals in the past three games.
Points may be hard to come by against the Bears, who have been the NFC’s second-toughest team to score against, having allowed 146 points.
Quarterback Jay Cutler had a solid game against the Vikings, throwing for 237 yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions and completing passes to nine different receivers.
The Bears also displayed some balance in their offense, with running backs Matt Forte and Chester Taylor combining for 102 yards on 32 carries.