Jay Cutler to resume starting role after passing concussion protocol

The Miami Dolphins will face the Denver Broncos on Sunday with starting quarterback Jay Cutler back on the field. Cutler missed the team’s Week 12 game against the New England Patriots due to a concussion, but he has been cleared and will be ready to play in Week 13.

“He’s out of the protocol,” head coach Adam Gase said during a conference call with the Denver media on Wednesday. “He has been cleared and he’ll be the starter on Sunday.”

Gase, speaking of Cutler, told the Miami media during his press conference on Wednesday, “I think he’ll be alright. We just need to have a good week of practice and clean up some stuff, get the timing down, get the ball out on time, get open quick. We have a tough d-line we’re going against. (They’re) well coached (and) relentless. (They have) probably one of the best pass rushers in football, so we’ve got to make sure it’s got to be 11 guys doing their job to make sure we get the ball out on time.”

Cutler also met with the media, responding to a question about his health saying, “I feel good. Thank you.”

The quarterback, who Miami signed during training camp as a replacement for an injured Ryan Tannehill, also missed playing time earlier this year after breaking his ribs. Asked about the status of those injured ribs, Cutler responded, “I don’t know how long its been. They said four weeks, so wherever we’re at with that. Those aren’t a problem for me.”

Cutler was the 11th overall pick in 2006, selected by the Broncos. He played three seasons for the team before he was traded to the Chicago Bears. Asked about how he looks back at those three seasons with Denver, Cutler replied, “I don’t right now.”

During his conference call with the Denver media, Cutler expounded on his time in Denver, saying, “I had a great time. I still have great friends that came out of the experience. Mike Shanahan, being able to play with him the first three years of my career, I couldn’t have asked for a better head coach. I think I was very lucky to be able to spend my first three years there.”

However, he does not see this as a chance to prove something against his former team, stating, “It’s been so long that I think a lot of those memories and feelings have subsided a lot, so it’s kind of just another team.”

Miami is currently 4-6 on the season and have struggled all season to find their offensive identity. They will kickoff against the Broncos at 1pm ET Sunday.