Bears QB Jay Cutler suffered a right thumb injury in Sunday’s win over the Lions. While the team hasn’t updated his status, multiple insiders are reporting that it’s broken. Beat writer Vaughn McClure hears from 2 separate sources that Cutler needs surgery and will be out 6-8 weeks.
Even the short end of that timeline would have Cutler out through Week 17. The team doesn’t plan on placing him on IR yet — hoping for a return for the playoffs. Meanwhile, Caleb Hanie will step in as Chicago’s starting QB. He was solid in the NFC Championship Game last year, completing 13 of 20 passes for 153 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs.
Cutler sustained the injury in Sunday’s 31-20 win over the Chargers when attempting to stop a touchdown on an Antoine Cason interception return. In the process he was knocked to the ground by linebacker Donald Butler.
The loss of Cutler is bad news for Chicago’s pass-catchers, especially WR Earl Bennett (and his orange shoes).
