Bears’ Coach Smith Says QB Cutler Is Close To Return

Added on Oct 11, 2010 by Jason Kearney in

NFL

The Chicago Bears lost quarterback Jay Cutler to a concussion against the NY Giants over a week ago, but according to head coach Lovie Smith he’s getting better and close to a return. Smith speculated that Cutler might be able to return for the Bears 10/17 home game against the Seattle Seahawks. Chicago is anxious to get Cutler back under center after Todd Collins performed very poorly in a 23-6 win at Carolina, throwing four interceptions and eventually being replaced by Caleb Hanie.

There was no shortage of ‘wishful thinking’ in Smith’s comment about Cutler’s condition:

“We’ll continue to evaluate Jay Cutler. Hopefully, Jay will be able to go this week. He hasn’t had any setbacks. … He’s doing better. Wednesday we’ll be able to tell you a little more.”

Unlike Smith, Bears’ tight end Greg Olsen gave the qualification that ‘he’s not a doctor’ but is also optimistic about Cutler’s near term return to action:

“I think [Cutler is] doing good. I think he felt good towards the end of the week and was able to get some practice in and some workouts.

“I think he’s feeling pretty good. I’m sure he feels good about it [playing against Seattle]. I’m not the doctor, I don’t make those decisions, but I’m sure Jay feels confident, as every player does, that they’re going to be back as soon as possible.”

In the meantime, Smith is left with a decision at quarterback. There’s a good chance that Caleb Hanie will be moved ahead of Collins on the depth chart and will get the start this week if Cutler is unable to go. Still, he equivocated when asked about the quarterback situation on the team:

“There is no quarterback controversy or anything like that. Todd didn’t play as well as he needed to finishing the game and I liked what Caleb Hanie was able to do coming in. ”

“We’ll just continue to watch video, look at the group and see who gives us the best chance to win. We haven’t changed anything right now. The same way we went into the game is where everybody is listed right now. We haven’t made any of those types of decisions.”

Chicago also has injury concerns on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker Lance Briggs left the Panthers’ game with an ankle injury and is listed as ‘doubtful’ on the official NFL injury report. Safety Chris Harris says that Briggs would be missed, but that the team has confidence in his backups:

“Lance is good player, he’s consistently made plays. It would hurt, but I think we have very capable guys behind him in Brian Iwuh and Nick Roach, they can play pretty good football. If Lance does have to miss time, I don’t think it’ll be a huge letdown.”

Coach Smith concurred:

“If we had to play without him, of course, it would be a big blow. Brian Iwuh is a good football player. He came in yesterday and did some good things.”

The schedule does cut the Bears something of a break, as Seattle has been a notoriously weak road team in recent years and has lost their first two away contests under new coach Pete Carroll.