Jay Cutler (ankle) is active and starting Sunday's Week 15 game against the Browns, as expected.

Cutler takes his starting job back from the white hot Josh McCown. He's a low-end QB1 in a middling matchup at Cleveland, where weather and wind could be an issue. There are no surprises in the Bears inactives: LB Lance Briggs, QB Jordan Palmer, S Sean Cattouse, DT Christian Tupou, OL James Brown, OL Jonathan Scott and DE Cornelius Washington.

ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi does not expect the Browns to pursue impending free agent Jay Cutler this offseason.

It might not even be an option for the Browns, as it's hard to believe the Bears would simply let Cutler walk. Regardless, Grossi expects the Browns to find their next quarterback in May's draft, where they are on track to own a high pick. Cutler would be an excellent fit for coach Rob Chudzinski's pass-happy, vertical attack, but it's highly unlikely to happen.

Jat Cutler has been named the Bears' Week 15 starter.

Josh McCown, who's averaged 352 yards over his past three starts, is heading back to the bench. Coach Marc Trestman made the decision after Cutler got in a full practice on Thursday, experiencing "no residual issue" from Wednesday's session. It's a risky decision to mess with McCown's success, but absolutely the right call if the Bears have any intention of bringing Cutler back for 2014. Cutler has played well this season, but attempted just 48 passes since October 10. With Trestman calling perhaps the best game in the NFL, Cutler will be a QB1 against the Browns, but he's not a slam-dunk play coming off such a long layoff.

Jay Cutler (ankle) has been cleared to practice at full speed and will participate in Wednesday's practice.

Coach Marc Trestman said he'll make a decision on who his Week 15 starter will be after Wednesday's walkthrough and publicize it Thursday. Cutler will go through that walkthrough and then throw to receivers and move around the pocket following it. Trestman says Cutler will go through a "thorough" workout. Following last Monday night's win, Trestman reiterated Cutler will be the starter once healthy. We'll get an answer within the next 24 hours. Unless Cutler experiences a steback this week, it sounds like he'll be under center against the Browns. Josh McCown will head back to the bench after going 3-2 in five starts.

The National Football Post's Jason Cole reports the Bears are likely to let free-agent-to-be Jay Cutler walk in the offseason unless he's willing to sign a team-friendly deal.

Cole is just the latest member of the media to report this, so it doesn't come as a shock. "(The Bears) believe in (coach Marc) Trestman after what they've seen from (backup quarterback Josh) McCown," a source told Cole. "Between his system and the two big receivers (Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery), you have a system where a quarterback can flourish. I don't know if McCown is going to be the starter (next season), but I think the team would be fine letting Cutler test the market and then go draft someone if he left." The Bears could re-sign McCown to a cheap, short-term deal and let a draft pick sit and learn.

Following Monday night's win over the Cowboys, coach Marc Trestman reiterated that Jay Cutler (ankle) will start once medically cleared.

In five starts this year, McCown is 3-2 with an 11:1 TD-to-INT ratio and a 83.5 QBR. That includes a 27-of-36 for 348 yards, five total touchdown performance against Dallas. Cutler's eight starts have yielded a 4-4 record, 13:8 TD-to-INT ratio and 63.2 QBR. It's a brutal decision for Trestman, but he could end up hiding behind the health of Cutler's ankle for at least one more week."We'll see where Jay is this week," Trestman said "He'll have to be released by the doctors. When Jay is ready to play, he'll be playing." Ideally, owners will roster both Cutler and the white-hot McCown in a handcuff situation. The Bears are at Cleveland in Week 15.

Bears declared Jay Cutler (ankle), WLB Lance Briggs (shoulder), DT Christian Toupou, DE Cornelius Washington, S Sean Cattouse, OT Jonathan Scott, and OG James Brown inactive for Monday night's Week 14 game against Dallas.

Cutler returned to practice this past week, but it wasn't enough to get him cleared in time to make tonight's start. He's likely eyeing a Week 15 return. Briggs was injured in the same game as Cutler. The rest are healthy scratches.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports impending free agent Jay Cutler is "on the radar" for the Titans in 2014.

We have a very hard time believing the Bears will simply let Cutler walk, but there are apparently people around the league who think they just might. Cutler played his college ball at Vanderbilt, which is located in Tennessee, and RapSheet says Cutler is "believed to be interested" in returning there to play. Rapoport reports the Titans will not pick up the option on Jake Locker's contract for 2015, and it sounds like they'd prefer him as a backup next year.

Jay Cutler (ankle, out) participated in Friday's practice.

Cutler has been ruled out for Week 14, but he's still trending toward a Week 15 comeback. Coach Marc Trestman said Cutler's ankle "responded well" enough to Thursday's practice that he was "not inhibited" on Friday.

Jay Cutler (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 14 against the Cowboys.

Cutler returned to practice on Thursday, but it was with an eye toward potentially returning in Week 15. Coach Marc Trestman "absolutely" expects Cutler to play again this season. As it is, Josh McCown will get the start against the Cowboys' sub-par pass defense, and is locked in as a QB1 for the first week of the fantasy playoffs.

Jay Cutler (ankle) returned to Bears practice Thursday, getting in a limited session.

It gives Cutler at least a shot at returning for Monday night's game against the Cowboys, but details are scarce. Cutler declined comment after practice. It's quite possible the Bears are just getting his feet wet ahead of a possible return in Week 15. With Josh McCown playing extremely well in Cutler's absence, the Bears don't have to force the issue. For the moment, we still expect McCown to get the start on Monday Night Football.

GM Phil Emery suggested that he doesn't want to use the franchise tag on Jay Cutler.

It would cost roughly $16.2 million for the Bears to slap Cutler with the tag, a number that would seriously harm their ability to improve their woeful defense. Emery would prefer to get Cutler signed to a long-term deal that would keep the franchise's cap situation in a reasonable place. The situation is complicated by not only Cutler's current ankle injury, but the multitude of injuries he's suffered of late. He's missed 11 games over the last three seasons and is highly questionable for Monday night's game against the Cowboys.

Jay Cutler indicated Monday that he hasn't gained medical clearance yet.

Cutler is a truly questionable for Monday night's game against the Cowboys. He ran on a treadmill Monday and is hoping he doesn't feel any "ill effects" from that. If cleared, he'll practice Thursday and try to prove to coaches that he's mobile enough to take back his starting job. Ideally, fantasy owners will practice a handcuff strategy, rostering both Cutler and red-hot backup Josh McCown. No matter who starts, owners would have a top-10 option on their hands.

Speaking Monday, Bears coach Marc Trestman called Jay Cutler (ankle) "week to week," and reiterated the team will "see where he is" when it returns to practice on Thursday.

The Bears are playing in Week 14's Monday night game, so they won't hold a formal practice on Wednesday. Typically, if a team knows a player is ready to go, they won't hide that fact at Monday's presser, so it's still quite possible Cutler won't be ready to return for Week 14. It's also possible that the Bears won't rush Cutler with Josh McCown continuing to show well in his absence. Cutler's status will be updated no later than Thursday, and likely earlier.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports Jay Cutler's (ankle) practice on Thursday will determine whether he starts in Week 14 versus Dallas.

"His practice on Thursday will determine whether Cutler will play," Mort stated. "If he's ready to play, he will go." Coach Marc Trestman has made similar statements. The Bears aren't yet sure about the health of Cutler's high ankle sprain, and won't have a good feel for his recovery until they get out onto the practice field on Thursday. The Bears play the Cowboys on Monday Night Football in Week 14, so they will not hold a Wednesday practice.

Jay Cutler (ankle) has said his goal is to return in Week 14.

A week ago, Cutler said he'd be "pretty disappointed" if he wasn't able to suit up against the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. We haven't heard any real update on his status since then. The Bears won't practice until Thursday this week, so owners will need to hang onto red-hot backup Josh McCown through fantasy's add/drop period. In four full games this year, McCown is averaging 298.7 passing yards per day with seven touchdowns and one interception. He's completing a very solid 64.5 percent of his passes. Whoever starts for the Bears on Monday will be a QB1.

Jay Cutler said he would not be upset if the Bears use the franchise tag on him this offseason.

Appearing on his weekly radio show Monday evening, Jay Cutler (ankle) said he'd be "pretty disappointed" if he wasn't able to play in Week 14.

"We're getting there. I feel a lot better than I felt last week," Cutler said. "I hate the position I'm in right now, so the sooner I get back out there, the better. I'd be pretty disappointed if I wasn't able to play for that [Week 14] game." Cutler has already been ruled out for Week 13 against the Vikings, but he's got his sights set on the following Monday night tilt with the Cowboys.

Jay Cutler (high-ankle sprain) is "not expected" to return for Sunday's game against the Vikings.

Coach Marc Trestman also insisted Monday that Cutler isn't dealing with anything more than a high-ankle sprain despite speculation to the contrary. "I'm totally confident he'll play again this season," Trestman said. The Bears are in capable hands with Josh McCown - who has a strong matchup in Minnesota - but still need Cutler back to make a legitimate push for the division. McCown's lack of a deep ball has kept the Bears' offense station-to-station, even if it's been effectively station-to-station. Cutler should have a chance at suiting up for Week 14.

Jay Cutler is no longer wearing a hard cast on his sprained left ankle.