LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Believe it or not, former USC quarterback Matt Barkley is one play away from running the Chicago Bears' offense.

With veteran Brian Hoyer expected to start Sunday night in Dallas -- Jay Cutler is doubtful with a sprained right thumb -- Barkley will be elevated to the No. 2 role after he joined the organization less than three weeks ago. On Thursday, the Bears elevated Barkley off the practice squad to the active roster.

In a perfect world, Hoyer stays healthy until Cutler returns, which may be sooner than people expect. Given Cutler's track record of beating projected timetables, you cannot yet rule him out of next Sunday's home game against the Detroit Lions.

But at the rate injuries force teams around the league (Dallas, New England, Cleveland, Philadelphia, etc.) to turn to inexperienced quarterbacks, there is a possibility, however slim, that Barkley may be called upon to take meaningful snaps for the Bears.

"You have to be ready and prepare like a starter," Barkley said. "I think you have to have that mentality in this league, because you never know what happens."

Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains lowered expectations for Barkley.

"To say that he's ready to go digest the entire game plan and play well and execute it would be an overstatement at this point," Loggains said Thursday.

However, Barkley had a slightly different take on his level of preparedness.

"It's only been [a short period of time] since I've been here, but I'm actually kind of surprised of how far I am in the offense," Barkley said. "Not because of my intelligence, but because of the way the system is, and how quarterback-friendly it is. There is a lot going on, no doubt, but I think because of my history with the Cardinals and that system we ran, there are a lot of similar concepts, even to what I ran in Philadelphia."

Barkley, drafted in the fourth-round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013, appeared in four games for Philadelphia (30-for-50 for 300 yards and four interceptions) before he got shipped to the Arizona Cardinals in 2015.

But USC is where Barkley made an impact. The 6-foot-2 quarterback finished his Trojans career as the school's third all-time leader in completions (755) and total offense (9,013 yards), behind former Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. In 36 career starts, Barkley went 27-9.

"I wouldn't say we'd be limited, but I'd probably have to read a few plays off the wristband," Barkley said with a smile. "But I feel real comfortable with this game plan and what we are doing."