CHICAGO -- Rex Grossman hobbled into an uncertain future, and the rest of his team wasn't far behind.
One year after reaching the Super Bowl, the Chicago Bears appear to be in a state of flux after a 24-16 loss at Washington on Thursday night all but dashed any shot left at a playoff spot.
The question of where the Bears (5-8) head from this point starts with the quarterback position. There was great fear about Grossman's injury, suffered just four minutes into the game Thursday, when his left leg twisted awkwardly under the force of defensive lineman Cornelius Griffin. The team did not issue any update on his condition Friday, but multiple Chicago-area media outlets reported that an MRI exam revealed no tear, only a sprain of the medial collateral ligament.
That is good news for Grossman, because a torn ligament might have required surgery and an extended rehabilitation process. He likely will miss the rest of the season as it is, because sprains of the MCL usually require a month of recovery.
As for the outlook farther down the line, Grossman has an expiring contract and would probably be a relatively cheap option for teams seeking a quarterback. It's hard to predict what they would get from him, though.
Grossman's five seasons in Chicago have been marked by inconsistency and injuries. He missed most of the 2004 and 2005 seasons with knee and ankle injuries, and his durability was a big question mark until he got through last season unscathed, when he led the Bears to the Super Bowl. Consistency remains an issue.
Grossman got benched after throwing six interceptions and one touchdown in the first three games this year and did not play again until Brian Griese sprained his left shoulder against Oakland on Nov. 11. The time off appeared to help, considering Grossman has three touchdowns and one interception in the past five games.
If he's finished for the year, the Bears have a decision to make: Do they go with the veteran Griese or give third-stringer Kyle Orton a look?
"It is amazing," wide receiver Bernard Berrian said. "I sit at home sometimes and think, 'Are we really in this position?' And it's hard, because we really can't pinpoint why."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: ESPN.com
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