Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has had the hard cast on his left ankle removed.
Cutler sustained ligament damage in a narrow loss to the Washington Redskins last month, with Josh McCown having replaced him since.
Although McCown has proved a capable understudy, the Bears are eager to get Cutler back into action to lead their playoff charge.
Bears coach Marc Trestman told the Chicago Tribune: "I'm going to stay on a 'just week-to-week' line because I've stayed pretty consistent with that. I'm really not the doctor. They tell me it's week-to-week.
"I try not to put myself in a position where I get overly optimistic about these things. I just take them as they come, so I look at it as being week-to-week right now, and we'll see where Jay is next Monday.
"The doctors are happy with the stability in the ankle, allowing them to lessen the protection around it. He's just wearing a brace now."
The Bears are currently well in the hunt to reach the post-season, sitting in second place in the NFC North.
