Concussion Benches Cutler

As much as Lovie Smith downplayed Jay Cutler's concussion all week, we knew this was coming eventually. The team announced yesterday that Cutler's injuries suffered during a nine-sack half against New York will prevent him from taking the field in Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. In his place, veteran backup Todd Collins will start under center. The 16 year vet will be making his 21st career start, and his first since a 2007 playoff game as a member of the Redskins. Meanwhile, Cutler will miss the first game of his six year career because of injury.

Collins relieved Cutler in the second half of the game last Sunday against the Giants, where he completed just 4 of 11 passes for 36 yards and a whopping 8.1 QB rating. And yet we're sure Mike Martz is relieved to have a veteran to fill in for Cutler. He'd lobbied extensively for a back-up with experience before the team finally signed Collins during the preseason. Otherwise, we'd likely have had a QB battle between Caleb Hanie and Dan LeFevour this week in practice to see who gets mauled behind the Bears' porous offensive line.