Bears vague on starting QB

Bears coach Lovie Smith was definitively vague regarding which player would start at quarterback next weekend against the Green Bay Packers.

Smith's options are less than desirable. He could stick with Caleb Hanie for a fifth consecutive game or turn to veteran Josh McCown or rookie Nathan Enderle for a fresh start.

Hanie is 0-4 as a starter and threw three interceptions in Sunday's 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. McCown has not started a game since 2007, and Enderle is a fifth-round pick out of Idaho who has yet to see action in the regular season.

McCown replaced Hanie late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game. He completed his first pass attempt for 12 yards but was intercepted on his second pass attempt.

"Right now, Caleb Hanie is our starting quarterback," Smith said during a 15-minute news conference Monday at Halas Hall. "He played yesterday. We finished up [with McCown because] we felt like we needed a boost, we needed to change the course a little bit yesterday. But we do that with all players.

"None of those decisions have been made with any of our position [players]. We evaluate the video, which we’re doing right now, and come Wednesday, ... you’ll have an idea then."

Smith resisted a question about whether the team wanted to give Enderle playing time in the next two games to gauge his ability going into next season.

"This isn’t a tryout period, either," Smith said. "We’re trying to win a football game.

"So the best guys that give us an opportunity to do that, of course [after] talking with our coaching staff, will be on the field. No more than that."

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Smith also said wide receiver Johnny Knox was in surgery Monday afternoon to stabilize a vertebra in his back. Knox is out for the season but is expected to make a full recovery.

Knox finished the season with 37 receptions for 727 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bears likely will make a couple of roster moves today or Tuesday to bolster their wide receiver corps. In addition to Knox's injury, the Bears released wide receiver Sam Hurd last week and have limited playing time for Devin Hester as he copes with a nagging ankle injury.