Jay Cutler wants to remain with the Chicago Bears as he faces free agency.

Cutler is even open to having the Bears place the franchise tag on him.

"I would like to stay in Chicago," said Cutler on Monday. "I'd be surprised if they kind of broke up the group that we have on offense. I want to stay here ... The longer that we can stay together as a group, the better we're gonna be."

Cutler is still out with an ankle injury.

"If they want to franchise me, I'm gonna feel good about the situation we're in," he said. "We're gonna be in our second year of the offense with these guys. We're gonna be better (and) I'm gonna be better, so it's not personal. It's business."

Jay Cutler has been cleared to start for the Chicago Bears on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

Cutler is recovering from a groin injury.

Josh McCown led the Chicago Bears to a 27-20 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Monday.

McCown was graded with a +5.6 by Pro Football Focus, which was second amongst quarterbacks in Week 9.

McCown went 22-for-41 for 272 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing once for 20 yards.

Jay Cutler is expected to return to the Bears' starting lineup this Sunday.

The Chicago Bears have no plans to change their base formation from a 4-3 to 3-4.

The Bears have long been a 4-3 team and changing to a 3-4 would require too many changes in personnel and philosophy.