The Bears lost their defensive leader on the same night as their quarterback — and to the same malady.
Unlike Jay Cutler, inside linebacker Danny Trevathan’s sprained thumb will require surgery, coach John Fox said Tuesday. He will have an operation to repair the ligaments Wednesday morning.
He won’t go on Injured Reserve, though, meaning the Bears anticipate Trevathan — who signed a four-year, $24.5 million contract in March to leave the Super Bowl champion Broncos — to be back in less than six weeks. That would have been his minimum time away had Trevathan gone on the IR.
“We don’t think it’s that long-term,” Fox said.
Another defensive injury is. Outside linebacker Lamarr Houston tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the second quarter Monday, sources confirmed, and will miss the rest of the season.
Fox wasn’t optimistic about his injury Tuesday — “It does appear to be significant,” he said — but held off issuing a public verdict while awaiting MRI results. The Bears figure to place him on IR on Wednesday.
It marks the second season-ending knee injury in three years for Houston, who tore his other knee while celebrating a sack of Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during mop-up duty in 2014.
Nose tackle Eddie Goldman was more fortunate. He was carted off the field Monday but was later spotted in a walking boot. Fox called the injury a left ankle sprain; while significant, he figures to return in less than six weeks, given that he remains on the active roster.
“He could miss time,” Fox said.
Safety Adrian Amos and cornerback Bryce Callahan remain in concussion protocol, while safety Chris Prosinski has a calf contusion. Cornerback Kyle Fuller, who missed the first two games after having arthroscopic knee surgery five weeks ago, could return against the Cowboys. He’s been limited in practice the past two weeks.
“We started the season without a couple of corners,” Fox said. “We’ve got some young guys that have gotten opportunity that it seems that they’re learning from, I think is some cases have excelled in, so we’ll figure it out.
“I like our roster, I like our choices and we’ll do everything we can to get everybody ready for Dallas.”
NOTE: The Bears released fullback Paul Lasike, who had appeared in both regular-season games and carried once against the Eagles for two yards.
