Trestman 'Totally Confident' Cutler Will Play Again This Season
By Adam Hoge—
HALAS HALL (CBS) — Bears head coach Marc Trestman insisted Monday that Jay Cutler's injury is nothing more than a high ankle sprain and said he's "totally confident" the quarterback will play again this season.
Cutler won't play Sunday against the Vikings, however.
"Jay remains week-to-week. I don't expect him to play on Sunday and we'll just leave it at that. It is week-to-week and there's nothing other than a high ankle sprain involved here, I want to make that very clear," Trestman said.
Pressed on the subject because of rumors that Cutler might have season-ending surgery on the ankle, Trestman responded optimistically.
"I'm totally confident he'll play again this season. I don't have any reason based on what I've been told. It's still week-to-week. I'm confident. I think Jay is confident. You have to leave yourself an opening, but there is no underlying information here. It's week-to-week with the understanding that at some point in time on a week-to-week basis that he'll be back," Trestman.
He won't be back this week, however, and neither will linebacker Lance Briggs, who is still nursing a shoulder injury. Trestman ruled him out for Sunday too.
Meanwhile, running back Matt Forte suffered "a slight hyperextension" of his (right) knee, according to Trestman, and his availability for Sunday will be evaluated throughout the week. Trestman did say he was "optimistic" however.
Defensive tackles Stephen Paea (turf toe) and Jeremiah Ratliff (groin) will also be evaluated throughout the week. The Bears' defense could badly use one or both of those guys as they are set to face Adrian Peterson just one week after allowing 261 to Rams' running backs.
Adam Hoge covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamHoge.
