John Fox would not guarantee that Jay Cutler will be the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback when Cutler receives the necessary medical clearance to return from a right thumb sprain.

"I don't think there are any givens. And that's no indictment on anybody," Fox said when asked directly about Cutler.

"This is a day-to-day, week-to-week, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league, and so we're just trying to get the best 11 guys out there regardless of the position to where we can play a full 60 minutes and get a victory."

Fox started Brian Hoyer -- 30-of-49 pass attempts for 317 yards and two touchdowns -- in Dallas on Sunday, but Cutler pushed hard behind the scenes to play in that game.

"I mean, a year ago I think he had a hamstring injury in the Arizona game, I think Game 2 here at home," Fox said. "The quote 'reports' was he'd be out six weeks. He came back and was healthy the rest of the season. I believe he missed the Seattle game. Jimmy Clausen started in his place. And then he returned after one week. It's hard to predict. We'll just see and evaluate him every day."