Bears give no further details on Jay Cutler's condition

The Chicago Bears are continuing to keep the severity of quarterback Jay Cutler's concussion under wraps, although they did let out the fact Friday that he will miss Monday's game with the San Francisco 49ers.

"Instead of everybody wondering and for us to move on and start talking about San Francisco, I kind of let you (reporters) all know that," coach Lovie Smith said.

Jason Campbell will start at quarterback, and Campbell said Friday that he actually knew he was the starting quarterback just before he went to the practice field Thursday.

When Smith was asked if Cutler had failed to clear medical tests required to return or if he had passed them and was being held out by the Bears as a precaution, he went back into his shell.

"He's not playing this week and that's about as much as I'm going to go into it," Smith said. "He's getting better and we're hopeful for next week.

"I think that should be enough for you (the media) to go on right now."

The next Bears game after Monday's is at Soldier Field against Minnesota Nov. 25.

Smith wouldn't even reveal whether Cutler will accompany the team on the flight. Cutler didn't go on the flight with the team in 2010 to Carolina after suffering a concussion in a road loss to the Giants.

"Whatever is best for him in the end is what we'll do," Smith said.

Cutler wasn't on the practice field Friday.

WR Brandon Marshall believes the team is handling Cutler's situation the right way.

"The good thing about being a Chicago Bear, I really love watching how the doctors and the staff are really putting health first, and that means a lot as a player who plays a violent sport," he said. "(Michael) Bush said it the best yesterday: (Cutler) has a kid now and there's life after football and coach Lovie said it, too. Our life, our health is more important than football.

"I think we'll get Jay back sooner than later and, in the meantime, we have Campbell stepping up who's more than capable of moving the ball and leading our offense up and down the field."

The Bears continue to build up Campbell this week, saying he is a huge upgrade over what they had last year when they lost Cutler to a broken thumb and went with Caleb Hanie first, then Josh McCown.

"That's why we went out (and got another quarterback), and we felt like we've upgraded the position," Smith said. "I know guys have a lot of confidence in Jason. He's played a lot of football, started a lot of games. ... Injuries do happen, and we'll see exactly where we are, but we think we're going to be OK."

Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.