SBNation.com - Jay Cutler Officially Placed On Injured Reservehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2011-12-27T15:20:16-05:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23414872011-12-27T15:20:16-05:002011-12-27T15:20:16-05:00Jay Cutler, Matt Forte Officially Placed On Injured Reserve
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<p>T'he <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> have decided to <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/skjensen/status/151757440772345856">officially</a> end the year for <span>Jay Cutler</span> and <span>Matt Forte</span>, who were both hurt earlier this year. Neither play will be cleared to play in Week 17 and with the Bears out of playoff contention the team has decided to place both players on injured reserve.</p>
<p>Cutler injured his thumb in a Nov. 20 game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">San Diego Chargers</a>. The Bears were hopeful he could potentially be available for the playoffs but they were officially out of the playoffs with last week's loss. </p>
<p>Forte suffered an MCL injury two weeks later and, like Cutler, there was some hope he could return if there was a playoff run.</p>
<p>The Bears now have two open roster spots as they approach Week 17 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a>. Check out <a href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com" target="_blank">SB Nation's Windy City Gridiron</a> for more on the Bears. </p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/12/27/2664309/jay-cutler-matt-forte-chicago-bears-injury-reserveJoel Thorman2011-12-27T09:42:59-05:002011-12-27T09:42:59-05:00Jay Cutler Injury: Bears QB Unlikely To Return Week 17
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<p>Though <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> quarterback <span>Jay Cutler</span> is making progress in his recovery from his broken right thumb, he is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Cutler-will-have-pins-removed-from-thumb-unlikely-to-play.html">unlikely to play</a> in the team's regular season finale against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/">Minnesota Vikings</a> on Sunday, Brad Biggs of the <i>Chicago Tribune</i> and National Football Post reports.</p>
<p>Cutler will have the pins removed from his surgically-repair thumb on Tuesday, but with the Bears eliminated from playoff contention, there's little incentive to rush him back for Sunday's finale. Bears head coach Lovie Smith is interested in seeing another start from journeyman <span>Josh McCown</span>, who played admirably in Sunday night's loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>.</p>
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<p>"We want to see him have an opportunity to come back and play again this coming week," Smith said of McCown. "You normally can find a spot for a player that played the way he played (Sunday) night."</p>
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<p>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.</p>
<p><i>For more on Cutler and the Bears, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Windy City Gridiron</a>.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/12/27/2663505/jay-cutler-injury-chicago-bears-week-17Brian McIntyre2011-12-15T12:14:40-05:002011-12-15T12:14:40-05:00Jay Cutler Injury: Outside Chance Bears QB Could Return For Packers Game
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<p><span>Jay Cutler's</span> injury was originally thought to be a season ending one for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> quarterback, but there's an outside chance that he could make a return for his team's second to last game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>. Lambeau Field on a December night isn't exactly the best place to make a return from an injury that prevents one from gripping a football, but Cutler <a href="http://eye-on-football.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/33875601?ttag=gen10_on_all_fb_na_txt_0001" target="_blank">told a reporter from CBS</a> that there is an outside chance he could make a comeback.</p>
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<p>"I'll say outside...I wouldn't say it's good or definite or a real possibility, but there's always a chance."</p>
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<p>Obviously, Cutler and the Bears aren't terribly optimistic about a return, and whether or not he decides to play through any discomfort could be influenced by the outcomes of various Week 15 games. The Bears currently trail the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> by one game in the NFC Wild Card race. If the Bears defeat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> and one of those two teams slips up, suddenly the incentive for Cutler to rush back becomes much greater.</p>
<p><i>For more on Cutler and the Bears, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Windy City Gridiron</a>.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/12/15/2638282/jay-cutler-injury-chicago-bears-green-bay-packersKim McCauley2011-11-30T22:22:08-05:002011-11-30T22:22:08-05:00Jay Cutler Admits Thumb Injury May End His Season
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<p>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.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Jay-Cutler-admits-he-could-be-done-for-the-season.html">Cutler didn't sound optimistic about his recovery timetable</a>, and instead sounded like a man who could have to sit out the rest of the season.</p>
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<p>“Obviously, I’d want to play next week if they’d let me but I don’t think that’s going to be in the cards,” Cutler said. “It could be I’m done for the season. I just have to be smart about it and realize that there is a long-term picture.”</p>
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<p>His head coach, Lovie Smith, left things open-ended, saying there was the possibility Cutler's season could be over, but he may yet return.</p>
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<p>“A possibility?” Smith said. “Yeah. It's a possibility. I mean, there are a lot of possibilities on a lot of things, you know. But you can't go that far. It's good to see back him here.</p>
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<p>Both quotes via <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Jay-Cutler-admits-he-could-be-done-for-the-season.html">National Football Post</a>.</p>
<p><i>For more on Cutler and the Bears, check out <a href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com/" target="_blank">Windy City Gridiron</a>. </i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/11/30/2602009/jay-cutler-injury-season-chicago-bearsBrian Floyd2011-11-22T15:06:22-05:002011-11-22T15:06:22-05:00Jay Cutler Undergoing Surgery On Thumb Injury
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> quarterback <span>Jay Cutler</span> is scheduled to have surgery on his broken thumb on Wednesday, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/skjensen/statuses/139053418605068289" target="_blank">according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times</a>. Cutler fractured the thumb on his right hand, his throwing hand, in the Bears' week 11 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">San Diego Chargers</a>. The Bears and their fans are keeping their fingers crossed that Cutler can indeed return in time for the season finale and a playoff run. </p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>Through ten games, Cutler has thrown for 2,319 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has a rushing touchdown. Chicago's schedule is mostly favorable down the stretch, save for a tough week 16 game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a>. They will rely on <span>Matt Forte</span> to keep the offense competitive as they fight for a Wild Card spot in the NFC. </p>
<p>For more on Cutler and the Bears, check out <a href="http://www.windycitygridiron.com" target="_blank">Windy City Gridiron</a>. </p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/11/22/2581066/jay-cutler-injury-surgery-chicago-bearsRyan Van Bibber2011-11-21T14:50:39-05:002011-11-21T14:50:39-05:00Jay Cutler Injury: Bears QB Faces Uncertain Road To Recovery
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<p>Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler suffered an injury on Sunday that will require surgery to the thumb on his throwing hand. SB Nation's Medical Expert details Cutler's prognosis and his road to recovery.</p> <p>Although <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bears</a> coach Lovie Smith announced Monday that he expects quarterback <span>Jay Cutler</span> to return before the end of the season from a fractured right (throwing) thumb, Cutler's ability to return in 2011 - and his effectiveness as a passer upon his return - will depend upon the specific type of fracture he sustained and whether his upcoming surgery will result in complete realignment of the broken bone.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Patients commonly sustain thumb fractures when a bent thumb undergoes a significant and forceful trauma, and they almost uniformly experience severe pain in the region around the base of the thumb followed by rapid swelling in the area of the thumb and wrist. The biggest concern for Cutler - and any patient with a significant thumb fracture requiring surgery, regardless of its location - is that the fracture site may develop arthritis due to poor realignment of the bone and joint if not treated properly.</p>
<p>There are two main surgical methods for repair of a thumb fracture. The first involves inserting a surgical wire through the fracture site without making an incision; this technique is reserved for fracture-dislocations that are relatively well-aligned. Although this is the least invasive surgical option, the level of stability attained is limited and may predispose to a higher likelihood of long-term complications. In circumstances where the fracture is poorly aligned following the injury, surgeons choose a second option known as open reduction and internal fixation, which involves making an incision and using small screws to re-attach the bony fragments.</p>
<p>Following surgery, patients are placed in a thumb cast for 2-6 weeks, with the length of time depending on the stability obtained during the procedure. Once the cast is removed, the thumb is placed in a splint and rehabilitation takes place until fracture healing is complete. The goals of rehabilitation are to relieve stiffness, restore range of motion, and increase muscle strength. Hand function is usually restored to normal over 1-3 months, although in some patients the thumb may not feel right for around six months.</p>
<p>Athletes are often able to return to action well before the injury has fully recovered, making Smith's timetable for Cutler's return reasonable. However, a key concern with thumb fractures regardless of the treatment option is whether the patient will ever regain the level of function they enjoyed prior the injury. If the bone does not realign properly after surgery, patient may develop arthritis, loss of motion, and a propensity for re-dislocation. Furthermore, if the fracture produces multiple, small bone fragments, damage to the surface of the bones, or significant soft-tissue injury, there is a higher likelihood of arthritis and decreased thumb mobility compared with those that are relatively uncomplicated and easily realigned in the operating room. Thankfully for Bears fans, Smith's belief that Cutler will return before the end of the regular season makes these worrisome possibilities less likely.</p>
<p>Perhaps the biggest issue with a thumb fracture in Cutler's case relates to the position he plays. Someone at almost any other position could potentially return to action even sooner than Cutler will, with a protective device in place to protect the thumb. For a quarterback, the thumb - and especially the base of the thumb - is critical for stabilizing the ball during the throwing motion and maintaining proper spin while in the air. To illustrate the importance of the location of a thumb fracture, <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Steelers</a>' quarterback <span>Ben Roethlisberger</span> has now suffered two fractures to his throwing thumb since 2005, but he has been able to return to action without any time missed due to the fact that the injuries were high up in the thumb and did not require surgical realignment. Cutler's ability to return to his current form will depend upon the ability of the surgeon to realign the bone to its original position as well as possible, and even after that, he could still suffer from a mild degree of loss of motion that could impact the speed and accuracy of his passes.</p>
<p>For the short term, the Bears will begin their season's stretch run with Cutler out of action, and with only two of their six remaining foes boasting records above .500, Chicago still stands a good chance of making it to 10 wins. Assuming, as Smith believes, Cutler is able to return before the Bears' season-ending game at Minnesota, the question will be whether his recovery has progressed enough to make him effective in a potential playoff game the next week. If not, backup <span>Caleb Hanie</span>, who will start in Cutler's place starting next week and who took over at quarterback when Cutler sustained a knee injury in last year's NFC Championship game loss to Green Bay, will be asked to guide the Bears in January for a second consecutive year.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/11/21/2578342/medical-report-jay-cutler-thumb-injurymohamadi2011-11-21T13:24:04-05:002011-11-21T13:24:04-05:00Jay Cutler Injury: Bears Looking At Free Agent Quarterbacks
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> head coach Lovie Smith <a href="http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/index.asp?mm_file_id=2348&play_clip=Y">spoke with the Chicago media on Monday</a> after news had surfaced that <span>Jay Cutler</span> fractured his right thumb and will be lost for at least several weeks. Smith didn't delve into specifics regarding the injury but did confirm it was a fractured thumb. When asked if it was a season-ending injury, he said it's not.</p>
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<p>"What I've been told right now is that we can expect him back at the end of the regular season. For me, that was enough to go on. He'll be out for a period of time right now."</p>
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<p>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."</p>
<p>The Bears currently have <span>Caleb Hanie</span>, the primary backup, slated as the starting quarterback in Cutler's absence. <span>Nathan Enderle</span> is also on the roster but Smith said the Bears will look to the free agent market to pick up a veteran quarterback. He acknowledged that there aren't many quarterbacks available but <span style="line-height: 9px;">"there are a few."</span> He didn't name names but among the top of the current free agent quarterbacks are <span>David Garrard</span>, <span>Trent Edwards</span> and <span>Josh McCown</span>.</p>
<p>It's never a good time to see your starting quarterback go down but the Bears have a relatively easy stretch of games coming up where they'll play all four AFC West teams (arguably the worst division in football) as well as the 4-6 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a>.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/11/21/2578236/jay-cutler-injury-chicago-bears-free-agentsJoel Thorman2011-11-21T12:24:27-05:002011-11-21T12:24:27-05:00Jay Cutler Injury Update: Bears QB To Undergo Surgery On Thumb
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<p>If you watched the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">San Diego Chargers</a> in Week 11 you may not have even noticed that <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/11/21/2577446/jay-cutler-injury-chicago-bears-season">Jay Cutler suffered a fractured thumb</a>. The Bears QB never exited the game and even head coach Lovie Smith didn't know the severity of the injury in his postgame press conference.</p>
<p>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 <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Rachel__Nichols/status/138658923996643328">hopeful he'll return before the end of the season.</a></p>
<p>Unofficially, however, the<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/11/21/2577699/jay-cutler-injury-chicago-bears-lovie-smith/in/2341487"> word is that Cutler will be out 6-8 weeks</a> 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.</p>
<p>For now, the Bears starting QB duties are handed to <span>Caleb Hanie</span>, who has attempted just 14 career passes.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/11/21/2577978/jay-cutler-injury-update-chicago-bearsJoel Thorman