Grossman's return gives hope to Bears' punchless offense

~ Despite a 10-4 record, Chicago decides to switch quarterbacks.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Rex Grossman's back as starting quarterback of the Chicago Bears. And what a long road it has been.

After countless hours of rehab to overcome two major injuries, he was more appreciative than ever Monday of where he's been, and of where he wants to go.

"It was tough to look through the window and see my teammates practicing when I'm in there doing something that is extremely boring," Grossman said shortly after Bears coach Lovie Smith announced he would start Sunday against Green Bay.

"And now getting a chance to play, it's one of those things that is extremely gratifying. It's an opportunity I'm definitely going to take advantage of because of what I've been through. ... I've got a little bit more respect for the position I'm in."

Grossman, who replaced struggling rookie Kyle Orton in the second half Sunday night and led the Bears to a 16-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons, gave the Bears' passing offense an instant charge and a spark it had been missing

"He was our starter before he went down and we have a lot of faith in him. We think he gives us our best chance to win," Smith said.

"We needed to get the offense kick-started a little bit. Rex has come from a lot to go down like he did early in the preseason. ... We really liked the energy he brought to our football team when we brought him in."

Plagued by injuries

Grossman tore a ligament in his right knee in the third game last season and didn't return. This year, he broke his left ankle in a preseason game Aug. 12 and has missed 26 games over the last two seasons.

Instead of putting him on IR, the Bears kept him on the roster this season and now he could lead them into the playoffs. They can clinch the NFC North by beating the Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Grossman, a first-round pick in 2003 after a stellar career at Florida, will be making just his seventh NFL start Sunday. He completed 9 of 16 passes for 93 yards in the second half against the Falcons, showing no problems with his legs and displaying a strong arm.

On his first play of the season, he drilled a 22-yard pass to Muhsin Muhammad as if to say he was back.

"It was fun to feel healthy and get the accuracy back. It came together very quickly," Grossman said.

"I really didn't doubt my talent that I could go out and play. It was more, 'Is my ankle going to be healthy? Am I going to feel 100 percent when I get out there or am I always going to have a little limp for a while this season, at least?' There were some uncertainly that I had that I was going to feel as good as I feel now. It's just unbelievable."

The Bears are 10-4 and had an eight-game winning streak with Orton as quarterback before a loss to Pittsburgh on Dec. 11.