The Chicago Bears know they need Jay Cutler. Backup Josh McCown has been doing all he can, but the team is awaiting Cutler's return after he suffered a groin injury on Oct. 20. The quarterback addressed the media for the first time since the injury, leaving everyone optimistic that he will return sooner than the four-week timeline projected.
Cutler would only say that the goal was to return earlier than expected and so far he is optimistic that he will achieve that. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall had a little more to say about Cutler's return. He predicted two weeks and then the quarterback is back on the field and leading the team. While Cutler is not denying that to possibly be the case, he is not getting his hopes up. Head coach Marc Trestman is just waiting for the doctor's word.
"Brandon is a teammate and he's optimistic that his teammate will be back," Trestman said, via ESPN.com. "He's not the doctor. When I talk about a player's prognosis to play, it's not mine. It's what the doctors have said is the normal. That doesn't mean that Jay can't beat the odds and come back quicker; and again, he's optimistic. You've talked to him, he's optimistic, and we all are. I don't make that determination, the doctors do."
Trestman has not ruled Cutler out yet against the Green Bay Packers in the upcoming Monday night football game. He said it was "highly unlikely" but anything is possible.
"What I'm saying is that I don't decide when Jay comes back or when any player comes back. The doctors make that decision. What I was doing was reiterating the prognosis of the doctors. They're not always right. It could happen faster. Jay's optimistic; we all are. But I'm not saying we're not bringing Jay back for four weeks," Trestman said.
On Cutler's part, he is not planning on taking a more cautious approach to his game after the injury. While the quarterback has yet to play a full season due to his questionable ability to stay healthy, he is not going to take his foot off the pedal. Cutler referred to each game being very valuable at this point in the season and he was merely focused on getting back on the field.
Until then, McCown continues to take on the offense. There is still a solid chance the backup plays on Monday which could mean for questionable fantasy days from Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. However, running back Matt Forte could be in for a nice performance. Cutler told reporters that he is doing everything he can to help out McCown and still be a leader on the team.
"Just doing whatever the doctors and trainers tell me," Cutler said. "That's kind of the world we're living in right now. It's tough watching. It's always the hardest part, not being able to do your job with the rest of the guys. So I've just got to help Josh [McCown] as best I can. And when I get back, I get back."
