Jay Cutler Officially Placed On Injured Reserve

Forte suffered an MCL injury two weeks later and, like Cutler, there was some hope he could return if there was a playoff run.

McCown went 19-of-28 for 242 yards with a touchdown, two interceptions and added 38 rushing yards in the loss to the Packers. The 32-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Bears late last month and is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March, but could possibly be the steady No. 2 quarterback the franchise has been looking for the last few offseasons.

For more on Cutler and the Bears, check out Windy City Gridiron.

For more on Cutler and the Bears, check out Windy City Gridiron.

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler spoke to reporters for the first time since his thumb surgery, giving an update on his injured thumb. Cutler had surgery to repair his broken thumb on Nov. 23 and may miss the season as a result. Since his injury, a timetable for Cutler’s return to the field has been unclear, though he did update the media on status.

Cutler didn’t sound optimistic about his recovery timetable, and instead sounded like a man who could have to sit out the rest of the season.

When Cutler first suffered the injury, many speculated that it would end his season and put the Bears’ playoff hopes at risk. The Bears have since revised Cutler’s schedule with the expectation that he could be back on the field before the end of the season.

For more on Cutler and the Bears, check out Windy City Gridiron.

Despite Smith’s reassurance that Cutler will return by the end of the season, thumb injuries run a wide spectrum in terms of time for recovery, with those who require surgery sometimes needing 8 weeks or beyond before they’re able to return to action.

Although the Bears have not divulged the exact type of fracture Cutler sustained, the most common one requiring surgical repair involves the base of the thumb and often also includes a dislocation of the joint. This type of injury, also known as a Bennett’s fracture, takes place where the metacarpal (thumb) bone connects to the the carpal (wrist) bones, also known as the carpo-metacarpal (CMC) joint. Due to the specific location of the fracture, there is some detachment of this ligament that stabilizes the joint from the bone, causing a dislocation of the joint. Unless properly recognized and treated, this type of injury may result in an unstable, arthritic joint with loss of motion and pain.

Smith said he’s not going into detail on Cutler’s surgery but did confirm he’s expected to undergo a procedure on the thumb “soon.”

But Cutler’s thumb is indeed a serious injury and it could cost him the rest of the regular season. The Bears are saying that Cutler will require surgery on his thumb and he could undergo the procedure as soon as Tuesday. They’re still not officially setting a timeline on his recovery but they’re hopeful he’ll return before the end of the season.

Unofficially, however, the word is that Cutler will be out 6-8 weeks with the injury. If that’s the case, it would take them right up until the last week of the season before he could even consider coming back.

Bears coach Lovie Smith acknowledged the injury on a Monday morning radio show.

But Smith declined to get into any talks about how long Cutler may be out.

ESPN Chicago’s Michael C. Wright reports that Cutler’s next step is surgery, with his regular season possibly over because of it. The Bears don’t plan to put Cutler on the injured reserve list, however, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Vaughn McClure.

For more on Cutler and the Bears, visit Windy City Gridiron.

Cutler did not miss any time in the Bears 31-20 victory, but the news afterward is that Cutler could be out “for awhile,” according to the Chicago Tribune’s Vaughn McClure. Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that there fears that the injury could end his season, though further tests are pending.

Cutler hasn’t been an outstanding quarterback this season, but he has led his team to a solid 7-3 record while playing in the ultra-competitive NFC North division. The veteran has completed 164 of his 283 attempts thus far this season, throwing for 2,033 yards and 11 touchdowns compared to six interceptions.