Bears QB Orton hopes to play Sunday

Nov 5, 2008 - 7:33 PM LAKE FOREST, Illinois (Ticker) -- Despite initial reports that he could miss a month will a high ankle sprain, Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton has not ruled out playing in Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans.

Orton suffered the injury late in the second quarter of last week's 27-23 win over the Detroit Lions when he was sacked by Cory Redding, but an MRI on Monday revealed no fractures.

"I'm certainly not ruling out anything," Orton said Wednesday at the Bears' practice facility. "(I'm) just going week to week."

According to the Chicago Tribune, Orton, who is wearing a brace on the ankle, was told on Sunday that he would miss three to four weeks.

"I feel like I got lucky," he said. "I'm hoping I don't miss any time."

Frequently maligned Rex Grossman replaced Orton in the second half Sunday and led the Bears to a pair of second-half touchdowns.

Grossman was benched as Chicago's starter after three games last season and beaten out by Orton for the starting job this year during the preseason.

Orton, who previously started for Chicago during his rookie season in 2005, has played well this season for the first-place Bears, completing 151-of-244 passes for 1,777 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Chicago (5-3) has a one-game lead over Minnesota and Green Bay in the NFC North.