CUTLER HAS ALL EYES ON HIM
Fox says returning QB looks good; McPhee excited to have him back
What’s Soldier Field going to be like on Halloween night?
‘‘ I hope it be bloody,’’ Bears outside linebacker Pernell McPhee said Friday. ‘‘[ Bleep].’’
While we wonder whether anyone ever has given a better answer, here are 10 more questions for the Bears as they prepare for their home game Monday against the Vikings:
1. So how does quarterback Jay Cutler look?
‘‘ He’s had two really good days of practice, to be real honest with you,’’ coach John Fox said of Cutler’s return from a sprained right thumb. ‘‘ If it was up to Jay, he’d have finished the Philadelphia game. I mean, he would have played the next week.’’
While praising Cutler’s toughness, Fox seemed to refer to his assertion earlier in the season that his quarterback choice would be ‘‘ performance- based.’’
‘‘ The reality is, in fairness to [ Cutler], we’re all kind of performance- based,’’ Fox said.
2. How do Cutler’s teammates feel about having him back?
‘‘ We’re so excited right now,’’ McPhee said. ‘‘ I think Brian [ Hoyer] did a great job when he was playing, but there’s something about No. 6.’’
3. Who’s going to block for him?
Maybe guard Josh Sitton, who practiced — albeit on a limited basis — for the first time since injuring an ankle against the Jaguars.
Guard Kyle Long ( triceps), cornerback Bryce Callahan ( hamstring), receiver Eddie Royal ( toe), linebacker Danny Trevathan ( illness), cornerback Deiondre’ Hall ( ankle) and nose tackle Eddie Goldman ( ankle) didn’t practice.
Running back Jeremy Langford ( ankle), receiver Cam Meredith ( shoulder) and cornerback Tracy Porter ( knee) were limited.
4. Which coach named his son after former Cubs star Ryne Sandberg?
Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains was a Cubs fan before moving to Chicago because games were on WGN- TV when he was a kid. Sandberg is his wife’s brother’s favorite player.
And 6- month- old Ryne Loggains was born on the 23rd of the month — the same as Sandberg’s jersey number.
‘‘ We felt like it was a fitting name,’’ Loggains said. ‘‘ We’re in Chicago, and it worked out. And then the birthday just happened to happen the way it did.’’ 5. Trick or treat? The Bears are 9- 4- 1 on Halloween. They won on Oct. 31 before stores even sold mass- produced costumes, beating Rockford AAC 29- 0 in 1920. The Bears last played on Halloween in 2004, beating the 49ers 23- 13.
The Bears are 29- 37 overall and 15- 13 at home on
‘‘ Monday Night Football.’’
6. What’s the deal with Vikings receiver Laquon Treadwell?
The Vikings drafted Treadwell 23rd overall in April, but the former Crete-Monee High School star has yet to catch a pass.
‘‘ Some guys, it takes a little bit longer than others,’’ Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.
Zimmer called Treadwell dedicated and said he expects him to start playing more. That wouldn’t be hard. Treadwell, who will wear Cubs- themed custom cleats Monday, has been inactive twice and has played only 12 offensive snaps all season.
‘‘ I don’t think it’ll be much, much longer before he starts getting some more playing time,’’ Zimmer said. 7. Whom can Treadwell mimic?
Zimmer pointed to teammate Stefon Diggs, who was inactive the first three games last season but has caught 79 passes for 1,110 yards since.
‘‘ The more times you point out when guys get an opportunity to go in and do some things and take advantage of their opportunities, I think that helps [ Treadwell] stay motivated,’’ Zimmer said. 8. Wanna bet?
The Vikings are 10- 1 against the spread in their last 11 games and 9- 1 against the spread in their last 10 road games. The Bears are 1- 7 against the spread in their last eight games and 1- 5 against the spread in their last six home games. 9. Wanna count to seven?
The Vikings have seven first- round picks on their defense: cornerback Terence Newman ( fifth overall), linebacker Anthony Barr ( ninth), cornerback Trae Waynes ( 11th), linebacker Chad Greenway ( 17th), defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd ( 23rd), cornerback Xavier Rhodes ( 25th) and safety Harrison Smith ( 29th). They drafted six of the seven ( all but Newman).
How do the Bears compare? They’ve drafted six defensive players total in the first round since 1997. 10. Ring a bell?
The Pro Football Hall of Fame will honor four former Bears — Dick Butkus, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton and Gale Sayers — at halftime Monday by presenting the Hall of Famers with rings. The Hall is in the process of giving rings to all its living members.