NFL: Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler set for season-ending shoulder surgery

CHICAGO Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will undergo surgery on his injured shoulder and will likely miss the remainder of the NFL.

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.

CHICAGO Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will undergo surgery on his injured shoulder and will likely miss the remainder of the National Football League season, team officials said.

Bears coach John Fox said Thursday the 33-year-old Cutler will have surgery to repair a torn labrum on his throwing arm and will be placed on injured reserve.

Asked if this might signal the end of Cutler’s chequered career in Chicago, Fox declined to comment.

“The off-season’s the off-season. We’re not there yet,” Fox said.

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Cutler suffered the injury in a 22-16 loss to the New York Giants on November 20. Cutler was sacked four times and threw an interception. He sat out last week’s loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Matt Barkley made his first career start versus the Titans, completing 28-of-54 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns.

Cutler missed five games with a right thumb injury earlier in the season. He’s thrown for 1,059 yards with four touchdown passes and five interceptions over five games in 2016.

Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears.

Cutler, who is in the third season of a seven-year, $126 million contract, spent seven previous seasons with the Bears.

This marks the third season-ending injury for a Chicago quarterback in 2016. Primary backup Brian Hoyer fractured his left arm and third-stringer Connor Shaw broke his leg during the preseason.

Originally published as NFL: Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler set for season-ending shoulder surgery