Jay Cutler is once again the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Just like that.
In yet another surprise twist in a season full of unpredictability, the Bears announced Monday afternoon that Cutler would start their regular-season finale Sunday against the Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The move came in concert with the team's announcement that Jimmy Clausen has been ruled out for the finale after being diagnosed with a concussion.
Clausen took a vicious helmet-to-helmet shot from Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah on the Bears' final drive of Sunday's 20-14 loss at Soldier Field. And while Clausen remained on the field for four more plays - three incompletions and a loss-sealing interception - the Bears said in a news release Monday that the 27-year-old experienced delayed symptoms as a result of the collision.
And after visiting a hospital Sunday evening to be examined by a team physician, Clausen was diagnosed with a concussion. The Bears said Clausen will continue to be evaluated under the NFL's concussion protocol. Still, the team chose not to delay a decision on Clausen's playing status/
"That's the doctors' decision," Bears head coach Marc Trestman said. "Medically speaking, he's been ruled out. And that was done today."
So now Trestman puts the controls of his offense back in the hands of Cutler, the struggling quarterback whom he benched just last Wednesday. Trestman, speaking in hushed tones Monday, said he wasn't worried about any strain in his relationship with Cutler based on last week's developments.
"I believe that Jay can work his way out of this," Trestman said. "I've enjoyed coaching him and working with him. And we had dialogue last week. And we worked together last week. It was a tough week on him. I empathize with him on that. But we're moving forward, both with the idea that we've worked together for a long time and that hasn't changed."
With the Bears now 5-10 and limping to their finale with major changes within the organization likely, Cutler and Trestman will play one final game together this season. What happens beyond that remains to be seen.