LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Quarterback Jay Cutler is returning to the Chicago Bears’ lineup and will start the final game of the season after Jimmy Clausen suffered a concussion.
The Bears are going back to Cutler for this week’s game at Minnesota after benching him for Sunday’s loss to Detroit.
Clausen was injured on a helmet-to-helmet hit by Detroit’s Ezekiel Ansah while scrambling on Chicago’s final drive of Sunday’s 20-14 loss. Ansah received an unnecessary roughness penalty.
Coach Marc Trestman would not say Monday if a healthy Clausen would have made another start.
“That’s not an issue right now,” he said.
The quarterback situation has been a big issue lately after Trestman decided last week to make a change with Cutler leading the league in interceptions (18) and turnovers (24).
It was a surprising move by a team that signed the quarterback to a huge seven-year deal after last season, and it raised big questions about Cutler’s future in Chicago.
Then again, no one appears to be safe with the Bears (5-10) missing the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years after opening the season with high expectations.
The future of everyone from general manager Phil Emery to Trestman to the assistant coaches and the players is open for discussion.
Clausen, making his first start since he was a rookie with Carolina in 2010, played turnover-free ball until a late interception. He completed 23 of 39 passes for 181 yards.
The Bears said Clausen was monitored by the team’s medical staff and the NFL’s concussion monitor and showed no signs of a concussion immediately after the hit or on the final four plays of the drive. The team said he was checked on the sideline and after the game and passed all tests.
The Bears said Clausen started having issues in the evening and was taken to a hospital, where he was examined by a team doctor and diagnosed.
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