Bears practice without Cutler, Jeffery again

Jimmy Clausen sure sounds like the Bears' starting quarterback for Sunday's game at Seattle.

No. 1 quarterback Jay Cutler and Pro Bowl wide receiver Alshon Jeffery both missed practice again Thursday, and it's highly unlikely either will play in Seattle.

After practice, when the starting quarterback usually addresses the media, it was Clausen who fielded questions.

“It's obviously one of the loudest if not the loudest stadiums in the NFL,” Clausen said when asked about CenturyLink Field. “It's going to be a challenge, but we're up for the challenge and looking forward to getting out there.”

But neither offensive coordinator Adam Gase nor head coach John Fox would confirm that Clausen will start against the Seahawks.

“We'll see where Jay is at and see what ends up happening on Sunday,” Gase said. “I'm waiting for (Fox) to give me the green light one way or the other.”

Fox doesn't have to make a declaration on Cutler's availability until Friday, when all teams with Sunday games must designate injured players as “out, doubtful, questionable” or “probable.”

Fox was asked if he knew who his starting quarterback would be, even if he didn't make that knowledge public.

“I've been fairly consistent with I don't announce our starting lineup at any position,” he said. “Whether I know, or somebody knows, is irrelevant. We do everything that the league requires us to do.”

Clausen talked about the benefits of taking the majority of the practice reps this week, as the starters do, and his increased interaction with Gase.

“Just the communication between the both of us and (quarterbacks coach) Dowell (Loggains) has been a lot better this week,” he said. “Obviously, when Jay's starting, he's getting most of the communication with Adam, and Adam hasn't really spent as much time with me.

“But this week has been pretty good as far as my communication with both of them.”

Clausen had an uneven performance against Arizona, coming in cold in relief of Cutler. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 121 yards with 1 interception and no touchdowns for a 56.6 passer rating.

But last week Clausen got just a handful of practice reps.

“When you get a full week to prepare, unlike a pop quiz when you were in school, you know the test date and the material and have an opportunity to prepare for it,” Fox said. “I don't know if it's easier, but you are a little more comfortable.”

After going 1-9 in 10 starts as a rookie for a woeful Carolina Panthers team in 2010, Clausen didn't throw another pass in an NFL game until last season with the Bears.

He got the Week 16 start against Detroit when Cutler was benched, and he completed 23 of 39 passes for 181 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception (77.0 passer rating) in a 20-14 loss to the Lions.

Clausen suffered a concussion near the end of that game, but there were some positive take-aways.

“Just going out with confidence, making plays and getting the ball to the playmakers,” he said. “I've got to distribute the ball to those guys in space and let them make plays.”

Clausen couldn't have picked a more difficult environment for his first start of the season. The Seahawks' defense was No. 1 in the league last season in fewest total yards, passing yards and points allowed. They're only the fourth NFL team to lead the league in fewest points and yards allowed in back-to-back seasons.

The Seahawks (0-2) have started slowly, but Pro Bowl safety Kam Chancellor ended his holdout earlier this week, and the two-time defending NFC champions are anxious for a victory.

“I can't worry about that stuff,” Clausen said. “They're going to play their game, and we've got to play our game.”

CenturyLink Field is considered among the most hostile venues in the NFL. The intimidation factor is undeniable. Since 2012 the Seahawks are 22-2 at home.

“I've been through that,” Clausen said. “Being a freshman (starter at Notre Dame) in college playing against fifth-year seniors. Being a rookie in the NFL playing against veterans in the league. We're still (just) playing football here.”

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