Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will return from a thumb injury to play against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 31.

 

Cutler has been out since he suffered a thumb sprain in a Sept. 19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach John Fox said Monday that Cutler has been cleared to play in the game next Monday night.

 

His backup, Brian Hoyer, suffered a broken left arm against Green Bay in the Bears' 26-10 defeat last Thursday. Fox says Hoyer has had surgery.

 

Fox says it's possible the team could pick up one more quarterback behind backup Matt Barkley, who played against the Packers after Hoyer's injury.

 

Chicago (1-6) is at the bottom of the NFC North division.

 

>>Broncos Dominate Osweiler, Texans

 

C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker energized Denver's sputtering ground game, both running for a touchdown. Anderson gained 107 yards on 16 carries and Booker had 83 on 17 hand-offs in Denver's 27-9 win over Houston Monday night. 

 

Brock Osweiler, who returned to a raucous crowd in Denver for the first time after he signed a big offseason deal with the Texans, was just 22 for 41 for 131 yards with no TDs and no interceptions. Siemian was 14 of 25 for 157 yards, a TD and no interceptions.

 

Osweiler also lost a fumble at his own 25-yard line. It was scooped up by Chris Harris on the first play of the fourth quarter and led to Brandon McManus' chip-shot field goal that made it 24-9.

 

Of the dozen passes thrown his way, Hopkins caught just five of them, covering 36 yards, and no other Texan gained more. And Houston was limited to Nick Novak's field goals from 43, 43 and 39 yards.

 

Anderson scored on a 7-yard run and Siemian hit Demaryius Thomas from 4 yards out as the Broncos took a 14-6 halftime lead.

 

Novak's 29-yarder made it 14-9, but Darian Stewart punched the ball from running back Alfred Blue's grasp and linebacker Todd Davis plucked it out of the air . That led to Booker's 1-yard TD run .