LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Jay Cutler was in helmet and pads Thursday at practice, but the Bears quarterback isn’t expected to play Sunday against the Panthers.
Cutler will sit out the game with a concussion from being sacked nine times in the first half of last week’s loss to the Giants.
“He’s making progress,” coach Lovie Smith said Thursday. “All we know right now is he’s not playing this week. Hopefully, he’ll be ready to go next week.”
Todd Collins, who took over to start the second half against the Giants and left with a stinger, will make his first start in three years.
This will be the first time Cutler has missed a start because of an injury. He had made 57 in a row since Denver turned to him as a rookie in 2006.
“I’m not going to sit here and say it doesn’t hurt,” receiver Devin Hester said. “It does.”
Favre nursing ailing elbow
MINNEAPOLIS — Brett Favre attempted to downplay the soreness in his throwing elbow, but the large bag of ice that was attached to his arm as he addressed reporters was a clear sign that something isn’t right.
In fact, the quarterback is believed to be dealing with tendinitis in his right elbow for at least the second time in his career. Favre missed the final three preseason games in 2000 because of it but returned to start the opener that season.
“I’m not overly concerned about it, but just based on my 20 years, there’s been little things that nag here and there,” said Favre, who will turn 41 on Sunday and then start his NFL-record 289th consecutive game the following day against the Jets.
“Of course, it’s my throwing arm, so it’s a little more of a concern. I’ve probably iced more in the last weeks than I have in my career. I don’t want to say I’m getting overly mental, but I want to be crisp.”
Simms denies marijuana use
NEW YORK — Former Broncos quarterback Chris Simms pleaded not guilty to charges he drove his car while high on marijuana, and an officer testified Simms told him at a checkpoint that he had been smoking.
The quarterback, son of former Giants quarterback Phil Simms, pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan courtroom to charges of driving while impaired and driving while impaired by drugs. Simms, 29, could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.
Simms, who is now unsigned, was stopped at a Manhattan police checkpoint July 1. The officer who arrested him testified Simms admitted he had taken four puffs of marijuana but there was none left in the car.
Judge Charles Solomon said he would rule Nov. 19 on whether the officer had probable cause to arrest Simms.
Footnotes.
Browns running back Peyton Hillis, who has rushed for more than 100 yards each of the past two weeks, has been added to Cleveland’s injury report with an unspecified thigh injury.
Also, Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme said his right ankle has steadily improved and he could return for Sunday’s game against Atlanta after missing three weeks.
• Raiders running back Darren McFadden sat out his second straight practice with a sore hamstring and is almost certain to miss Sunday’s game against the Chargers. Michael Bush, off to a slow start after missing the first two games with a broken left thumb, handled the majority of reps in practice and will likely start against the Chargers.
• Moise Fokou will replace Akeem Jordan at strongside linebacker Sunday, when the Eagles face the 49ers.
• Free-agent punter Hunter Smith signed with the Redskins, returning to the team to replace Josh Bidwell, who has been put on injured reserve with a hip injury.
• The Texans signed defensive end Mark Anderson, who was cut by the Bears on Tuesday, and waived defensive end Ryan Denney.
• The Lions placed wide receiver Tim Toone (leg) on the practice squad reserve/injured list and signed undrafted rookie wide receiver Alric Arnett to the practice squad.
• Ralph Godfrey Kercheval, the oldest living former NFL player, died Wednesday in Lexington, Ky. He was 98.
Denver Post wire services
