Cutler could be on the run vs. Chiefs
Quarterback Jay Cutler is feeling better than he did last week, when he played despite a strained hamstring that restricted his movement.
The Chicago Bears hope he can say the same thing next week after facing a Kansas City Chiefs defense that features a fearsome pass rush led by outside linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali.
Houston had 22 sacks last season, only a half-sack shy of the NFL record. Hali had just 6 sacks last season, but he had 55 over the previous five seasons.
The ability to run away, quickly, could be important.
“I'm still not exactly where I want to be,” Cutler said, “but we have a lot of guys banged up out here, so (you) just make do.”
Cutler made do in the 22-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders by making a conscious effort to stay in the pocket so as not to aggravate his injury, which has limited his participation in practice this week.
“I had the mindset I was going to stay in the pocket and just work from there,” Cutler said. “Even when I stepped up a few times and threw it, my mindset was just get rid of the ball and let these guys do it. This week I think I'll be able to move around a little bit more.
“We still want to stay in the pocket and deliver the ball from there. (But) If I've got to get out, I think I can get out.”
He may have to against a K.C. defense that was No. 3 in sack percentage last year. The Chiefs are off to a slower start this year, ranking just 15th.
But Cutler will be operating behind an offensive line that wasn't great to begin with and has been weakened by injuries.
Left tackle Jermon Bushrod is expected to miss a second straight game with a concussion, leaving the protection of Cutler's blind side to 2014 seventh-round draft pick Charles Leno, who played his first complete game last week.
The situation on the interior of the Bears' O-line is more problematic.
Because of Will Montgomery's season-ending fractured fibula, the Bears must rush rookie Hroniss Grasu into the starting lineup or shift left guard Matt Slauson into the middle, as they did last week.
That second option leaves a void at left guard. Backup Patrick Omameh stepped in last week, but he has yet to practice this week because of an ankle injury.
It's possible only five of the nine offensive linemen on the opening-day roster may be available Sunday.
That includes right tackle Kyle Long, who has been limited all week in practice with back and ankle injuries. Sixth-round rookie tackle Tayo Fabuluje (ankle) was added to the injury report Thursday.
“It does get challenging, getting through practice, just getting everyone on the same page,” Cutler said. “Mistakes are going to happen, but we'll just try to eliminate them.”
If Grasu is forced into the mix, mistakes will be difficult to avoid, as even he admitted.
“If my number gets called, hopefully I can just step right in and help these guys out,” said the third-round pick out of Oregon. “But I know mistakes will happen and something wrong will happen, but you just have to move on from it and get better from it.”
Grasu, a four-year starter at Oregon, hasn't played one snap in an NFL game, but he is not without skills.
“He's athletic,” Bears coach John Fox said. “He gets to the second level. He's smart. He's played in a winning program. We liked a lot of his football character.”
As a competitor, Grasu says he wants to be on the field, but the decision isn't his to make. Cutler has no game experience with the rookie but likes what he has seen.
“Smart kid,” Cutler said. “Works his tail off. He's going to do everything possible to help the team. He wants to do it; wants to be up there. It's just a matter of experience for him, getting out there and getting the reps and going through it.”
Ready or not, Grasu might experience all of that Sunday.
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