Bears quarterback Jay Cutler rushes the ball past Texans inside linebacker Tim Dobbins during the second quarter Sunday night. Cutler left the game with a concussion, possibly caused by a hit from Robbins. (US Presswire)

The Chicago Bears find themselves looking at an uncomfortably familiar situation as a result of the concussion suffered by QB Jay Cutler on Sunday night in a 13-6 loss to the Houston Texans.

Cutler went out Sunday at halftime with a concussion possibly caused on a penalized hit by Texans LB Tim Dobbins late in the second quarter. Coach Lovie Smith said Cutler never showed symptoms until he got into the locker room at halftime.

Backup Jason Campbell came on to finish the game. Campbell could produce just one field goal and the Bears couldn't move the ball at game's end with a chance to tie.

"It was a seven-point game tonight with Jason leading us in the second half," Smith said. "The backup doesn't normally get a lot of reps during the week."

The Bears went 1-5 last year without Cutler and lost out on a chance at the playoffs. So they signed Campbell in free agency. They couldn't be certain after the game whether Cutler would be able to go Monday night (Nov. 19) in San Francisco.

"If (Campbell) has to go, we feel very confident," Smith said. "That's why we brought Jason here.
"I'm hopeful. We're not ruling Jay out by any means."

Campbell completed a 45-yard pass to Brandon Marshall to set up a field goal but did little else. He finished with 94 yards on 11 of 19.

"You know, it's tough when you're sitting on the sidelines," Campbell said. "You don't get any reps during the week, so you have to get a lot of mental reps. I was trying to do some of the things I learned during the week and apply them."

Campbell maintained that he would be better prepared with a week of practice if called upon.

The Twitter world was abuzz that the Bears had violated protocol for concussions by throwing Cutler back out on the field after the hit by Dobbins for a handful of plays, including a 19-yard scramble. Smith, however, maintained Cutler never showed symptoms until he was in the locker room.

"We're hopeful," Smith said of Cutler returning to face the 49ers. "But you can't go that far. We just know he had symptoms, which started clearing up after the half.

"He took a lot of hits, more than he needed to take. No symptoms until the half. He took some shots. We jsut know at the half, that's when he did have symptoms."

The concussion is not Cutler's first with the Bears. He left a Monday night game with the Giants in 2010 after suffering nine first-half sacks and a concussion.

The Bears also lost first-round draft pick Shea McClellin to a concussion in the first half.

Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.