Jay Cutler was out on the practice field with teammates on Wednesday but the Bears quarterback was more in the role of assistant coach for Jimmy Clausen and David Fales, not starting quarterback. Cutler’s injured hamstring will keep him out of Sunday’s game at Seattle against the Seahawks, but “news” of how long he’ll be out is anything but hard news.
One ESPN report was that Cutler will miss at least two weeks. Other information is that he will miss four to six weeks. Neither estimate is more than speculation at this point and probably should be treated as such.
“I don’t know how they pick coin flips and how they are at the track,” said coach John Fox with a trace of irritation. “I don’t know how they would know if we don’t.”
Clausen took the starter’s reps during practice, something he hasn’t done since the couple of days prior to last season’s Week 16 game against the Detroit Lions. How ready he is for another start, albeit not against a defense as stout as the Lions’ vs. the run last year, plays out Sunday afternoon.
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For what it’s worth – which is not a lot – backup quarterbacks were involved in wins last weekend in Cleveland (Johnny Manziel), Dallas (Brandon Weeden) and Washington (Kirk Cousins).
“Jimmy played probably a little over a half last week. as I mentioned after that game, whether you’re Brandon Weeden or Jimmy Clausen or whatever backup quarterback or whatever backup position there is in the league, you’re one play away from being the starter.
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“I think Jimmy got considerably more reps today than, say, he did last Wednesday. So we’ll have to wait and see.”
Fales was the last Bear on the practice field Wednesday, pantomiming quarterback steps by himself. Until Tuesday he was on the Bears’ practice squad, meaning he has more immediate experience running opponents’ offenses than his own team’s.
“He’s probably about as caught up as most third quarterbacks in this league are,” Fox said.