Smith praises Grossman's play despite loss in Seattle

No official announcement was made Monday regarding the starting quarterback job, but it sure sounded like Rex Grossman would take the opening snap against. the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Soldier Field.

"Rex played very well this past week," coach Lovie Smith said. "I would rather not go into who is starting and all of that right now, but you saw the game. He did a heck of a job."

Grossman threw for 266 yards, his second-most productive day since Sept. 24, 2006, and he completed 24 of 37 passes without an interception for a passer rating of 86.1. He completed 4 passes of more than 20 yards, 2 to Muhsin Muhammad and 1 each to Rashied Davis and Bernard Berrian.

"Offensively, I think we did some good things," Smith said. "Rex Grossman played well throughout the game, passed the ball well, got it to a lot of receivers … our receivers caught the ball well."

Brian Griese started Games 4-9 after Grossman was benched, but Griese was relegated to No. 3 last week after suffering a sprained left shoulder that knocked him out of the Nov. 11 game against the Raiders and limited his practice time last week. His status is also uncertain this week.

"Once Brian gets in position where he can play, then we'll put him into the mix and make those decisions," Smith said. "He should be a little closer to that this week, hopefully."

The quarterback position is likely to be evaluated weekly, including Kyle Orton, who moved up a spot last week to No. 2 and could get some starts if the Bears are mathematically eliminated from the postseason.

"It's a week-to-week thing with our entire football team," Smith said, "quarterback and all positions."

Slim pickings: The Bears have just 1 interception in their last five games and 6 all season. Only the Miami Dolphins, with 5, have fewer.

That was one of Lovie Smith's key messages Monday, according to cornerback Charles Tillman.

"We've got to start making plays," Tillman reported Smith as saying. "(He said) 'Time is running out.' We keep talking about making a run, but time's running out. Time's not on our side right now."

Tillman, Nate Vasher, rookie Trumaine McBride and Ricky Manning Jr., the Bears' top four cornerbacks, do not have an interception among them. Manning and Tillman tied for a team-best 5 picks last season, and Vasher had 3.

Lovie Smith said part of the reason for running back Cedric Benson getting just 9 more carries after his first 2 carries netted 63 yards, was the success of the passing game.

"He played well throughout when he got the ball," Smith said of Benson, who finished with 89 yards on his 11 attempts. "I've been asked a lot about the number of carries he got. When a guy averages over 8 yards a carry, I can see why you would ask why we didn't get him the ball more.

"But we moved the ball fairly well throughout. Whether you're moving the ball with the run or the pass, it doesn't really matter, as long as you get some production -- and we were able to do that."

Down and out: Cornerback Ade (odd-EE) Jimoh (gym-oh), a key special-teams player, suffered a fractured collarbone Sunday. He'll be placed on injured reserve and miss the remainder of the season.