Erik Kramer is accustomed to making difficult decisions. He has one now.
Doctors evaluating pain in his throwing shoulder agreed Tuesday that the Bears quarterback has a strained right rotator cuff with some tendinitis in the area. But the degree of any tear to the muscle remains uncertain.
That leaves the decision up to Kramer whether to play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. He must weigh the risks of continuing to play with the risk of additional injury against resting his shoulder another week to improve the chances of his playing the rest of the year.
Kramer will continue rehabilitation exercises and receiving anti-inflammatory treatment. The Bears described him as questionable (50-50 to play) Tuesday. If Kramer does not start Sunday, he still is expected to be in uniform and to play a key role this week in developing the game plan and preparing Steve Stenstrom for the Rams.