Rarely one to divulge a lot of injury information, Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith remained true to form and shed very little light Friday on the severity of quarterback Jay Cutler's knee sprain.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Cutler was listed with knee/neck injuries, and Smith referred to his injuries Thursday as "bumps" from the game on the Metrodome's artificial turf. A Chicago Tribune report called it a very mild MCL sprain.

"What knee?" was all Smith would say about it Friday. "I know there was a guy that reported that there’s a problem with the knee, but there’s no problem with the knee."

Actually, Smith himself told the media that there was a knee injury on Thursday but that it didn't limit his mobility. The Tribune report had gone a step further and described it.

"Jay’s good to go," Smith said. "We’re hoping he’ll play the best game he’s ever been able to play.”

Not-so-walking wounded: LB Brian Urlacher (hamstring), CB Tim Jennings (shoulder), and WR Earl Bennett (concussion) all have been declared out, and it's not looking good for either DE Shea McClellin (knee) or DT Henry Melton (chest) as they've been listed doubtful. 

Bennett will miss a second straight game. He hasn't been cleared by an independent neurologist of symptoms.

"We’re a little banged up, but believe me we have enough guys to play this week," Smith said. "We have had good practices."

Special guys needed: Special teams are often neglected, but the loss of S Craig Steltz and DB Sherrick McManis will be felt on teams this week. Coordinator Dave Toub said it's not a matter of just picking a player up off waivers and putting him on special teams.

"Very difficult at this point," he said. "There’s not a guy on the street you can take in and bring here and be a great player for you because he hasn’t been in the (meeting) room, he hasn’t heard your voice, he doesn’t know your system, he doesn’t know the plays.

"We have to get it done with the guys that are here, the guys that are on the team. I explained that to the guys. Those guys are going to have to step up and they will. They’ll do a good job."

Toub said it's possible he'll be trying to plug in other subs, as well. LB Blake Costanzo might need to play some defensive snaps because of the knee injury suffered by Geno Hayes last week. TE Kyle Adams will be counted on to play four phases.

Perfection: Kicker Olindo Mare not only outkicked his competition at his tryout to replace Robbie Gould, but he was perfect. He made every single field goal try. The decision to sign him over Neil Rackers and Billy Cundiff was also based on other aspects of kicking.

"We considered all those things: how they kicked off, how they kicked onside kicks," Toub said. "We were out there for two hours to do it, so we feel like we made the right choice."

Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.