Greg Olsen: Jay Cutler moving well

After watching Jay Cutler during informal workouts in recent weeks, tight end Greg Olsen said the Chicago Bears quarterback appears "completely normal" after suffering a knee injury in the NFC Championship game.

"I am not a doctor [but] yeah, he looks fine," Olsen said Monday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "He looks completely normal to all of us. I think he feels fine so I don't think there is any lingering effects from anything."

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Cutler was diagnosed with a second-degree sprain of his medial collateral ligament after the Bears' loss to the Green Bay Packers in January. No surgery was required, and Cutler has rehabilitated on his own during the lockout.

During the lockout, Cutler has led players-only workouts around the northern suburbs since May. But according to a league source, the players are not expected to work out this week as a group and have no other workouts scheduled.

Olsen said the workouts have helped the offensive players with their timing as they prepare for Year 2 in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system.

"It's a little unfortunate because in normal years we would have gotten a lot of work between all the OTAs, all the minicamps, just the regular days out on the field," Olsen said. "We would have gotten a lot accomplished and learned a lot from last season, but we didn't so that's the hand we were dealt, and we have to play a little catchup as far as with the coaches once training camp opens. But as players there is a lot we can do to prepare for the season."

After an inconsistent first season in Martz's complicated system, Olsen believes the Bears are poised for a breakout season from the offense.

"For awhile here we've been the stepchild," Olsen said. "The offense has always played second fiddle, deservingly so because we've had some of the top defenses and top defensive players in league history. But we feel like we have a good core nucleus of young offensive players and Jay being right up there as the guy. With Matt [Forte] and our receivers, Earl [Bennett], Johnny [Knox] and Devin [Hester], I think we've got a lot of guys who are ready to have a little bit of consistency."

This is encouraging to hear, particularly that Cutler appears to have no ill-effects from his injury he sustained in the NFC Championship Game and that the players continue to work hard in doing their part to prepare for the season prior to whenever the lockout is lifted. This is good to hear, as any news coming from the players is good news unless, of course, someone is injured during a practice session.