Jay Cutler miraculously cleared to play right after Brian Hoyer breaks his arm

Head coach John Fox announced Monday that Jay Cutler has been medically cleared to play this week when the Chicago Bears face the top defense in the league, the Minnesota Vikings. Cutler suffered a thumb injury in Week 1 against the Houston Texans, and then he aggravated the injury the following week in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He has been sidelined ever since.

Brian Hoyer stepped in for the Bears, and played well. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,445 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. In fact, Hoyer played so well that the Bears were willing to let him assume the starting role permanently.

Hoyer suffered a broken arm after a hit by Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews in Week 7, and he will miss the remainder of the 2016 season. Coincidentally, Cutler returns to the field just in time to save the Bears from having to start Matt Barkley. Barkley took the field after Hoyer’s injury in Week 7, and he went 6 of 15 for 81 yards, two interceptions, and no touchdowns.

Fox said Monday that Hoyer’s surgery was successful, and he is expected to land on injured reserve.

Prior to injury, Cutler threw for 373 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and he added two fumbles against the Texans in Week 1. Cutler also was sacked eight times over the course of seven quarters of football. Chicago will have to work to protect Cutler against a Vikings defense that has 19 sacks so far this season.