Lovie Smith says Bears still evaluating Jay Cutler after concussion

The Bears didn’t have a practice today, since they play next Monday night, but quarterback Jay Cutler has started the process of getting medical clearance to return to the field.

When that is, however, isn’t clear.

“[Jay Cutler] is getting better. We’re still evaluating him, he’s meeting with people, medical staff, our trainers and all of that, but he’s getting better,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “We do have a little bit more time and that’s always good.”

Asked if the fact that Cutler has had multiple concussions — his last documented was in 2010 — affected the evaluation process, Smith said, “I can’t really get into all that.

“When a guy has a concussion, whether it’s the first or whatever, it’s a concern for you. We will do everything thing possible to get him back but it’ll all take care of itself, whether it’s two or whatever. He’s not going to go back practicing until he’s completely well and ready to go. He won’t play until there’s no issues with that.”

Later, Smith noted that “every case is different.”

“Jay’s feeling a whole lot better,” Smith said. “It’ll all play out.”

Smith, though, suggested that the heightened attention on concussions won’t really change the Bears approach.

“I just think in the past, if he had some type of symptoms, you took a guy out of a game. So I don’t see it affecting an awful lot,” he said. “Now people are really on top of concussions a lot more and we probably redefine what a concussion is. A lot of those things have happened but I don’t think so.”