Bears' Cutler pushing to return sooner

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is pushing hard to come back sooner than expected from his groin injury, but he's wanting to play it smart.

"I'll push it as much as I can," Cutler said Tuesday. "That's up to the trainers and doctors."

Cutler, who was injured Oct. 20 against the Washington Redskins, on whether he can come back sooner than the prescribed four-week timetable: "That's the goal."

Bears coach Marc Trestman also has hopes Cutler can return sooner than expected.

"They're not always right," Trestman said about the doctors' timetable. "It could happen faster. I'm encouraged by his sense for how he is improving. That's a positive sign. I think we have to stay within the framework that the doctors gave us. I think that is prudent right now, and we'll see where he is next week."

Cutler attended but did not participate in the Bears' practice Tuesday.