Sprained thumb could leave struggling Bears without Cutler
The Chicago Bears might have to get by without quarterback Jay Cutler.
Coach John Fox said Cutler has a sprained right thumb that does not appear to require surgery, and he has not been ruled out for this weekend’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
If he is not ready, Brian Hoyer will start.
“It’s hard for me to give timelines,” Fox said Tuesday. “We’ll evaluate tomorrow. We’ve got practice tomorrow; we’re on a short week already. If Jay’s ready to do it, fine. If not, we’ll go with Brian Hoyer.”
Cutler topped a long list of players injured in Monday’s 29-14 loss to Philadelphia.
The defense was hit hard, with linebacker Danny Trevathan scheduled for surgery Wednesday morning on a sprained thumb.
Linebacker Lamarr Houston will miss the rest of the season because of a torn ACL in his left knee. Houston clutched his knee and was tended to on the field after trying to rush the quarterback in the second quarter. He tore the ACL in his right knee celebrating a late sack in a blowout loss at New England in October 2014.
Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman (sprained ankle) left the field on a cart in Monday’s game.
The Bears find themselves in a familiar spot with their quarterback hurt. Cutler has not played in all 16 games since 2009, his first season in Chicago, and if he is sidelined, that would be a big blow for the Bears. They are 0-2 in their second season under Fox after finishing last in the NFC North a year ago.
It’s not clear when the injury happened. Cutler reportedly suffered ligament damage to his thumb during the season-opening loss at Houston. He was not on the injury report leading up to the Eagles game.
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