The only certainty about the concussion that knocked Bears QB Jay Cutler out of commission in Sunday's 17-3 loss to NYG seems to be the ambiguity cast on his timetable for a return.
Bears coach Lovie Smith gave the standard response of positivity when asked if Cutler could rejoin the club in time for next Sunday's game against Carolina. Yet the league's policies on how teams handle head injuries could put a damper on that optimism.
"If he's healthy and ready to go, of course he'll be back out there like all of them will," Smith said after the game.
The Bears, however, won't make that determination on their own.
Todd Collins replaced Cutler in the third quarter, but was also knocked out, and Caleb Hanie then took over for Collins. The Bears take on Carolina next week.