Thumb’s up for Cutler as Bears stun Vikings
Jay Cutler threw for 252 yards and a touchdown after missing five games with a thumb injury, rookie Jordan Howard ran for a career-high 153 yards and a TD, and the Bears stunned the Minnesota Vikings, 20-10, last night in Chicago.
The Bears (2-6) sacked Sam Bradford five times while handing the NFC North-leading Vikings (5-2) their second straight loss.
Cutler was on target in his return from a sprained right thumb. Howard easily surpassed his previous high of 118 yards. Alshon Jeffery got his first touchdown reception of the season.
Cutler had not played since he exited against Philadelphia in the second game of the season. But with his future up in the air after coach John Fox wavered in his commitment to him as the starter, he made a triumphant return.
Cutler completed 20-of31 passes, including an 11yard touchdown to Jeffery early in the third that made it 20-3. Whether he quieted fans who thought the Bears were better off with Brian Hoyer is another issue. But that became a moot point when Hoyer broke his left arm last week in a Thursday night loss at Green Bay.
Howard had a 69-yard run, the longest for Chicago in seven years. Zach Miller added 88 yards receiving as the Bears stopped a threegame losing streak.
Bradford, playing behind a porous line, had rough game and completed 23-of37 passes for 228 yards.
Ex-Pro Bowler retires
Andre Johnson called Tennessee coach Mike Mularkey, asking if they could talk yesterday morning.
After 14 NFL seasons, the man with more catches than anyone else currently playing had made up his mind: Time to retire.
“He said he’s been contemplating it for weeks and his heart was not in it,” Mularkey said. “This is a tough business to be in when your heart’s not in it.”
The 35-year-old receiver did not release a statement.
None of that prevented Mularkey from trying to talk Johnson into staying. The Titans signed Johnson the day they reported for training camp to a two-year deal paying the veteran minimum this season with the chance at a bigger payday in 2017. Johnson started four of the eight games he played but hadn’t caught a pass in the last three.
A seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, Johnson spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Texans.
Big Ben practices
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger practiced in a limited capacity yesterday, just two weeks after undergoing surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee.
Whether Roethlisberger is healthy enough to start under center when the Steelers visit their rival Baltimore Ravens on Sunday remains to be seen. Still, he was initially expected to miss 4-6 weeks following the surgery, but could return earlier than expected.
If Roethlisberger can’t go, fourth-year veteran Landry Jones is likely to start.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is expected to provide an update on Roethlisberger today. . . .
The Kansas City Chiefs defended their treatment of Alex Smith after their quarterback twice had his head slammed into the turf in Indianapolis, saying that he passed concussion tests both times. Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said team physicians and an independent neurologist do not believe that Smith sustained a concussion.
Running back Spencer Ware did not pass the concussion protocol and was ruled out after taking a similar hit. . . .
The Green Bay Packers released running back Knile Davis two weeks after acquiring him from the Chiefs for a conditional draft choice.
Protection needed
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he’s involved in ongoing discussions with the NFL and the Players Association about ways to make sure league MVP Cam Newton is given the same protection in the pocket as other quarterbacks.
Newton blasted NFL officiating following Sunday’s game against Arizona after taking a shot to his lower right leg from defensive tackle Calais Campbell as he was releasing the ball.