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The Bears could be without Jay Cutler for some time after the quarterback injured his right thumb in Monday's loss to the Eagles, reports NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. The team is "preparing for a lengthy absence," which means backup Brian Hoyer will be the starter for the foreseeable future.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Cutler originally suffered ligament damage in his thumb in Week 1 against the Texans.

Hoyer, signed this offseason, started nine games for the Texans last season and 13 games for the Browns in 2014. The former undrafted free agent out of Michigan State began his career with the Patriots, though the knock on him is that he's inconsistent and lacks arm strength.

Not helping: Hoyer will play behind a porous Bears offensive line, one that is at least partly responsible for Cutler's struggles through the first two games, the lowlight of which was this third-quarter interception against the Eagles:

Insult, meet injury: Teammate Pernell McPhee, apparently frustrated with what was passing for quarterback play in Chicago, bumped Cutler as he came to the sidelines.

"I'm fine with that," Cutler said afterwards. "He's a passionate guy. Everyone has a lot invested into this, and he does as well. No one likes to lose. No one likes to lose in that fashion. He's upset. I'm upset. Everyone in that locker room is upset right now. But, the good thing is that we have a lot of good guys in there, and we have a bunch of good coaches, and we have 14 games left."

Cutler didn't return after the pick, and admitted that his thumb, which was in a cast after the game, was the reason.

"I couldn't get as much on it as I wanted to, to put it over the top of that 'backer," Cutler explained. "It was unfortunate, hurt the team. I knew I was putting the team, especially the offense, in jeopardy at that point. ... I knew my day was done."

That day could turn into weeks, and possibly months. And now the question becomes whether this will be Cutler's last season in Chicago.