Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who has missed the past three games while recovering from thumb surgery, said Wednesday there is an "outside chance" he'll return on Christmas Day to face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, but he warned Bears fans not to get their hopes up.

Cutler was asked a hypothetical question Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000 about the possibility of returning to face the Packers if the Bears beat the Seahawks on Sunday in Seattle. The Bears have lost all three games that Cutler has missed, but their wild-card hopes could remain alive with a win in Seattle.

"I'll say 'outside,' " Cutler said. "I wouldn't say it's good or definite or a real possibility, but there's always a chance, but like you said, we have to get this one first."

When pressed later on it, Cutler refused to put a percentage on the likelihood of returning.

"Outside shot, let's not get anyone's hopes up, let's not ruin anybody's Christmas dreams, but outside, outside," he said.

Bears management has been consistent in its optimism that Cutler could return before the end of the regular season.

But a loss Sunday likely extinguishes the Bears' playoff hopes, which could make it unlikely Cutler would rush back and risk further injury.

"That's not up to me," he said. "That's up to management. We'll see what happens there."