Bears place Cutler, Forte on IR

Lake Forest, IL – The Chicago Bears placed quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte on injured reserve Tuesday, silencing thoughts that either would return to the team this season.

Cutler has missed the last five games with a broken right thumb which required surgery, while Forte has missed the Bears' last three contests with a knee injury.

Prior to breaking his thumb while trying to make a tackle after an interception in the fourth quarter of a 31-20 win over San Diego on November 20, Cutler led Chicago to a 7-3 record while completing 182-of-314 passes for 2,319 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

But the Bears have dropped their last five games in his absence to fall out of playoff contention with Caleb Hanie as the team's primary signal caller.

Forte suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee during a 10-3 defeat at the hands of Kansas City on December 11.

Forte entered the game leading the NFL with 1,475 yards from scrimmage, ranked third in the league with 997 rushing yards and was also the club's top receiver with 52 catches.

To fill the roster spots, Chicago signed defensive tackle Jordan Miller to the active roster from the practice squad and signed guard Mansfield Wrotto.