Nov. 21--Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is embracing Sunday's reunions with former coach Lovie Smith and former teammate Josh McCown when they will be adversaries for the Buccaneers' visit to Soldier Field.
Cutler was the starting quarterback for four of the nine seasons Smith coached the Bears.
"Any time you're with a head coach as long as Lovie was here and I was here, there's definitely a relationship," Cutler said Thursday. "We won 10 games the year he got fired, which was tough to see. And a lot of the blame was on the offense, I said when he got fired. At this point, you just have to wish him well and move on."
Cutler's record as a starter under Smith was 35-23, including a loss in the 2010 NFC championship game.
Smith said his familiarity with Cutler won't affect Sunday's game disproportionately.
"Jay has been a great quarterback for a long time," he said on a teleconference Wednesday. "Things that bother you as a defense, a quarterback who can make all his throws with mobility who can move around in the pocket. Of course, Jay has all that."
Cutler's matchup opposite McCown is intriguing particularly because of the synergy they achieved with the Bears last season.
"You probably could pair him with most of the people in this room, and he'd find a way to help make you better," Cutler said. "He's not going to make you worse, I know that. He's just one of those kind of people."
Mobile QB: Coach Marc Trestman made a concerted effort to move Cutler's passing point Sunday against the Vikings. During their self-scouting over the week off, coaches' concluded "we did almost exclusively drop-back or play-action passes in the pocket," Trestman said Thursday. That prompted him to call several plays that got Cutler toward the perimeter.
Cutler was adamant about maintaining this element in weekly game plans.
"It was great," he said. "We have to keep doing it in different ways, showing different looks, get off the spot as much as we possibly can because it helps with everything. It helps (contain) the pass rush, get some easy balls out to the flat, out on the outside (to let) the guys run. It has to be something in our offense that we do more of."
Injury update: Receivers Brandon Marshall (right ankle) and Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) returned to practice Thursday with limited participation. They are expected to play Sunday.
Returner/receiver Chris Williams (hamstring) sat out a second straight day. Newly-signed Marc Mariani practiced as the return man, Trestman said. Williams' status should be clearer Friday.
Right tackle Jordan Mills (rib muscle) was limited. Michael Ola worked with the first string during the portion of practice that was open to reporters.
Defensive end Jared Allen missed practice for a non-injury reason. Darryl Sharpton (right hamstring) and defensive end Trevor Scott (knee) also sat out.
Defensive tackle Ego Ferguson (illness) and receiver Josh Morgan (shoulder) fully participated.
