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The Changing Chicago Bears Roster: How Injuries Have Impacted the Season

By Bryan Dietzler

Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive guard Kyle Long (75) looks on with an ingury to his right ankle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Chicago Bears 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive guard Kyle Long (75) looks on with an ingury to his right ankle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Chicago Bears 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) lays on the field after a late hit by New York Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon (54, not pictured) at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) lays on the field after a late hit by New York Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon (54, not pictured) at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

The quarterback position suffered quite a bit during both the preseason and regular season and may suffer even more before it’s all said and done.  If starting quarterback Jay Cutler finishes the season on injured reserve, then Chicago will have had three quarterbacks miss significant time due to injury.

The first quarterback to go out was Connor Shaw.  He went down in the Bears’ preseason game against the Cleveland Browns with a broken leg.  He has missed the entire 2016 season.  Shaw was a promising backup that could have been utilized this season with the injuries and ineffective play that has come out of the quarterback position.  Maybe we will see more of him next year.

Cutler lasted just a couple games, to start, before going out for a few games with a thumb injury.  The injury ushered in his replacement, Brian Hoyer.  Hoyer didn’t have that bad of a series of games but wasn’t a “gambler” or a risk take at the quarterback position.  He made very few mistakes but couldn’t do enough to win.  His season came to an end in the Green Bay game when he broke his arm.

After the injury to Hoyer, the Bears brought Cutler back for their game against the Vikings. He had managed to be healed just in time for a debut against Minnesota.  That was his best game of the season.  He played poorly in his next two games and may be out for the rest of the season.

UPDATE: The latest news now says that Cutler is day to day with a torn labrum.  It’s doubtful, however, that he will play this Sunday against the Titans.  Chicago has signed former backup David Fales off the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad.  It could be Fales or Matt Barkley at quarterback the rest of the year.

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