National Football League

Cutler breaks thumb in Bears' win

Published Nov. 20, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler led Chicago to its fifth consecutive win Sunday, and he did it while playing with a broken thumb.

In an interview with WBBM-AM in Chicago on Monday, Bears coach Lovie Smith confirmed reports that Cutler suffered the injury during Chicago's 31-20 victory over San Diego.

Smith says it happened when Cutler helped tackle Antoine Cason on an interception return in the fourth quarter. In the process he was knocked to the ground by linebacker Donald Butler.

Smith says Cutler was seeing specialists on Monday and would not offer a timetable for his recovery. The Chicago Tribune reported he is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

Surgery is an option for Cutler, but the Bears reportedly have no plans to place him on injured reserve. With six weeks left in the regular season, he could return for the playoffs.

Cutler played through the injury on Sunday, completing 18 of 31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.

Caleb Hanie will fill in as quarterback in Cutler's absence.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.