Bears QB Brian Hoyer To Undergo Surgery

SUNDAY, 10:22am: Hoyer will indeed have surgery on his broken left arm, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan, who adds that the surgery will happen today. Hoyer will miss at least eight weeks and could be placed on IR. If Jay Cutler is still not ready to suit up in time for next week’s matchup against Minnesota, Chicago likely will have to sign another quarterback this week, as Matt Barkley would be the only healthy quarterback on the roster.

FRIDAY, 10:52am: Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer has been diagnosed with an isolated radius forearm fracture, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Surgery is considered likely, but a late-season return could also happen, Rapoport adds. 

Hoyer is almost certainly going to be placed on injured reserve, though the Bears could bring him back late in the year if he heals up in time. If placed on IR, the veteran would be out of action until Week 16 at the earliest. Of course, the Bears can only bring one player back from IR this year. As shown on Roster Resource, cornerback Kyle Fuller could still theoretically return and could do so as early as Week 11. Wide receiver Kevin White was previously thought to be a return candidate, but his recent surgery probably rules him out for 2016. Ultimately, the Bears will have to weigh their valuation of Hoyer versus Fuller, assuming both are capable of playing.

Hoyer has completed more than 68% of his passes for 1,396, six touchdowns, and no interceptions since taking over for Jay Cutler during Week 2. When Hoyer exited, backup quarterback Matt Barkley was put into the game, but it’s also possible that Cutler could get another opportunity to start once he’s healthy. In any event, the Bears will probably add another quarterback to the roster in the coming days.