Cutler says timing of his return unknown

CHICAGO, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler said Wednesday he could need further surgery on his injured thumb and doesn't know when he'll play again.

Cutler was injured in the Bears' Nov. 20 game against San Diego and had three screws and two pins inserted into his thumb.

Speaking about his injury to reporters for the first time, Cutler said he will have the pins removed in the next three to 10 weeks, and he won't know until then whether another operation will be needed.

The quarterback said he didn't suffer any ligament damage but still expects to have less flexibility in the thumb, which also was dislocated when he got hit by a Chargers defender. He said he's trying to restore movement in the thumb, which is still swollen.

Cutler said sitting out "is horrible."

"I don't like any of this. It's not what I signed up for. It's not anything I've been a part of," he said. "It's definitely hard on me. The sooner I can get back out there, the better."

But whether that will be this season or next is unknown, he said.

"We'll have to see week by week and take some X-rays and CT scans and see if the bone is healing like it should be," he said. "I don't want to put a number on it because I don't know.

"I have to be smart about it. Obviously, I'd want to play next week if they'd allow me. I don't think that's going to be in the cards. It could be I'm done for the season."

The 7-4 Bears play the 4-7 Kansas City Chiefs Sunday.