Plenty of doctors have contradicted Lovie Smith's assessment of Jay Cutler's speedy return from a Bennett's fracture. There is one possibility though that may have been overlooked which supports Lovie's optomistic statements.

Reportedly, Jay Cutler suffered a Bennett's fracture which can require anywhere from 4-8 weeks of recovery time, depending on the fracture type. While plenty of doctor's who were not privy to examining the patient have speculated that Jay could be out for 6 weeks minimum, there is one type of Bennett's fracture which would require only 4 weeks of recovery. It is known as a non-displaced Bennett's fracture. In layman's terms, it is merely a hairline fracture which does not displace the bone from the joint. It's basically the least severe type of Bennett's fracture you can have.

The treatment for a non-displaced Bennett's fracture at minimum is a traditional cast which would have to be on for six weeks. To speed up the healing process, pins can be inserted to secure the fracture. In the case of a non-displaced Bennett's fracture, the hand does not always technically need to be cut open. Holes can simply be cut into the skin of the thumb afterwhich the pins are instered. The pins are then protected and the thumb is secured with a removable thumb spica cast.

If the injury has healed as expected, approximately one week after closed surgery (next Wednesday) Jay will begin range-of-motion rehab three times a day. If daily examinations of the bone reveal that it has continued to heal correctly, Jay will have his cast & pins removed four weeks from the date of injury (December 11th) and will begin full rehab which could take anywhere from one week to 11 days. That would place him on schedule to return in time for the Green Bay Packers game on Christmas day coincidentally enough.

If Lovie Smith's statements are to be believed, and I'm not one to think Lovie is the lying type, then it is highly likely that the type of Bennett's fracture that Jay Cutler suffered was of the non-displaced variety, which would only require four weeks of recovery as Dr. Neal Elattrache speculated earlier on NFL Network.

I'm not trying to play doctor here, but I always do my own homework and am not afraid to share my thoughts afterwards. Take it for what it's worth. We'll all find out soon enough.