Jay Cutler Injury Update: QB Will Have Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
Published by Mike Chiari on December 1, 2016
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will miss the remainder of the 2016 season due to surgery to repair a labrum injury in his shoulder.
Head coach John Fox announced the news Thursday, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter added it could mean the end of Cutler’s tenure in the Windy City.
Cutler suffered the injury in Week 11, and after sitting out Week 12, the decision was made to place him on injured reserve.
The 33-year-old veteran also missed time with a thumb ailment earlier in the season and appeared in just five games. He went 1-4 with 1,059 passing yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions.
Brian Hoyer had seemingly won the starting job from Cutler prior to suffering a broken leg in Week 7, and now that both signal-callers are out, Matt Barkley is in line to start for the remainder of the campaign.
Cutler has four years remaining on his contract with the Bears, according to Spotrac, but the franchise can avoid a $2.5 million roster bonus for 2017 if it releases him.
With a record of 2-9, Chicago figures to have a high selection in the 2017 NFL draft, which means it could potentially select its quarterback of the future.
In eight seasons with Cutler at the helm, the Bears have made the playoffs just once, and he has no Pro Bowl appearances during that time.
Chicago may need to start over and rebuild in order to return to contention, and it is difficult to envision Cutler as part of those plans.
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