Jay Cutler's season is officially over.
The Chicago Bears quarterback will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder on Saturday and will be placed on injured reserve, coach John Fox announced Thursday.
The news comes as no surprise, despite Fox's hemming and hawing the past week. After two weeks of rehab, the injury didn't heal as the quarterback hoped, ending his season.
Matt Barkley is slated to start the rest of the way -- barring another quarterback injury. Barkley completed 28 of 54 passes in his first career start last week -- a loss to the Tennessee Titans. The fourth-year pro threw three touchdown passes, but also tossed two brutal red zone interceptions. The USC product can run the offense, but his weak arm limits the playbook.
Expect rookie running back Jordan Howard to carry the offense in the final five weeks.
The question now becomes whether Cutler has played his final snap in Chicago.
Fox dismissed the inquiry on Thursday.
"The offseason's the offseason. We're not there yet," he said.
With no guaranteed money left on his contract, the Bears could cut bait on an enigmatic player that inspired little hope among Chicago fans.
