Poll Of The Day: When do you think Jay Cutler will return?

When the Chicago Bears announced that Jay Cutler would be out at least four weeks following the diagnosis of a torn groin, it sent many of us scrambling for the NFL schedule.

Let's see, bye week, Packers, Lions, so he'll be back for the Ravens!

But the Bears emphasized it was "at least" four weeks, meaning the doctors will reassess his groin after four weeks, then go from there.

So that makes it, bye, Packer, Lions, Ravens, and then back for the Rams game!

But then frequent visitor to Windy City Gridiron, and an actual doctor, WCG member akn, dropped this in the comment section;

At least 4 weeks implies he has a grade 2 groin strain.

Typical grade 2's are 4-6 weeks, but healing depends on several factors, including the amount of time it takes for bruising and swelling to come down and how limited his function was at the time of the injury. You also have to factor in that he's not going to be able to keep his conditioning up for most of the time because it's a leg injury. So even if he's medically cleared in 4 weeks, I would guess at least another week or two to get back into shape and get his timing back.

My opinion, you won't see him back for at least 5-6 weeks, and 7-8 wouldn't surprise me. Not trying to be a downer, just giving it to you straight.

Downer indeed...

Then other doctors reiterated that same lengthy time frame.

Double downer...

But then Brandon Marshall declared Jay will be back in two weeks, so hello Detroit!

But then Marc Trestman didn't officially rule Jay out of this Monday night's game against Green Bay.

It's a Miracle!

Then again...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Bears&amp;src=hash">#Bears</a> coach Marc Trestman hasn&#39;t totally ruled out Cutler for Monday &quot;You never want to say &#39;never&#39; but I&#39;d say it&#39;s highly unlikely&quot;</p>&mdash; Rafer Weigel (@RaferWeigel) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaferWeigel/statuses/395273492293099520">October 29, 2013</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

... highly unlikely.

But Jay himself is hoping to return quicker than the four week timetable, so is it Ravens or Lions for #TheOtherChicagoReturn?

I'm confused, so why don't you take the poll and let us know when you think he'll be back.

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