By The Associated Press

Published: Thursday, November 15, 2012, 8:06 p.m.
Updated: Thursday, November 15, 2012

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler missed practice Thursday, and his playing status remains in question because of a concussion.

Coach Lovie Smith says Cutler continues to improve, but it's not clear if he'll be ready to play at San Francisco on Monday night.

If Cutler can't play, Jason Campbell likely will make the start.

Cutler, injured on a helmet-to-helmet hit from Houston's Tim Dobbins, needs to be cleared by team physicians and independent neurological consultants before he can return.

The same goes for 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, who also suffered a concussion last week.

Falcons WR Jones will be game-time decision

Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (ankle) did not practice for the second consecutive day and will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against Arizona, coach Mike Smith said.

Harbaugh has procedure for irregular heartbeat

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh was sent to the hospital for a “minor procedure” after doctors discovered he had an irregular heartbeat.

The team said it anticipates Harbaugh, 48, will be back at the 49ers facility Friday, though it's unclear in what capacity. No details about the procedure were given.

Jacobs says tweet wasn't about 49ers, Harbaugh

49ers running back Brandon Jacobs has posted advice on Twitter with a reference to never working “in a place where you hate your boss so much.” The hash tag: “YouLiveAndYouLearn.”

In the locker room soon after his post, Jacobs said people shouldn't “assume” his remarks were football-related.

In a strange twist, rookie running back LaMichael James retweeted Jacobs' initial post with the “hate your boss” reference and being happy at work. James, a second-round draft pick out of Oregon, hasn't played at all this year, either.

Bears LB Urlacher would lie about concussion

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher still says he would lie to cover up a concussion.

He responded “yeah” when asked if he would try to cover up such an injury. He said he's not sure “how you can lie these days with all the (stuff) they have to see who's concussed and not.”

NFL commissioner says sport will evolve

Professional football can evolve into a safer game without sacrificing the physical play that has made it so popular, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a speech on player safety at the Harvard School of Public Health.

“Football has always evolved, and it always will,” he told an overflow crowd of a few hundred.

Jets' Greene says quotes in story ‘out of context'

Jets running back Shonn Greene says he was “shocked” by a published report in which he was quoted as suggesting the team might need to make a change at quarterback.

Greene says the Yahoo! story included quotes that were “completely out of context.” The story quoted Greene as saying: “You feel bad for Mark (Sanchez), but at the same time you want to win games.” ... If you want to win games, you've got to try something.”

Chiefs OL Asamoah has surgery on thumb

Chiefs offensive lineman Jon Asamoah will miss Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals after surgery on one of his thumbs.

Former Texans P sues stadium tenant over turf

Former Houston Texans punter Brett Hartmann has sued the county agency that operates Reliant Stadium, blaming “unsafe turf” for a possibly career-ending knee injury.

1. Steelers hope new blocking scheme kick-starts running game
2. Steelers notebook: Gilbert hopes to stay on left side of O-line
3. Steelers notebook: Slimmed-down Redman optimistic for 2013
4. Steelers veteran outside linebacker Woodley: ‘I’m good to go’
5. Steelers quarterback Roethlisberger likes the revamped offense
6. Steelers’ Polamalu trim, fit as he arrives for OTAs
7. Steelers’ Miller watches, waits while teammates practice
8. Ex-Steelers QB Batch learns new form of 2-minute drill
9. Steelers might be looking at a youth movement in 2013
10. Coach Tomlin, Steelers facing plenty of questions as OTAs start
11. Steelers notebook: Less talk, more work is Tomlin’s theme

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