LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Jay Cutlers return has come at the right time for the Chicago Bears.Cutler is back as the starter after five weeks away with a thumb sprain as a replacement Brian Hoyer, who went on injured reserve with a broken left arm.And Bears coach John Fox is thankful to have Cutler healthy enough to play, even if earlier he hinted there was a chance Hoyer could keep the job.He doesnt have a choice, I guess, at this point, Cutler said about Fox. Brian is out, so Ive got to go.Ive had good conversations with Foxy this week, last week, the week before. Theres never been any strain in our relationship. Were both very open and honest, and were on the same page. We just want to win football games.While Cutler was away, Hoyer played five-plus games without an interception and a 98.0 passer rating.It led to talk Cutler might have played his last down for the Bears, who are 1-6 on the season. And Fox didnt exactly throw cold water on the situation by saying the starting position is performance-based.It is what it is, Cutler said. Anytime you have a backup quarterback -- and to Brians credit, he played well.I think as a team, we wish we would have won some more of those ball games. But Brian went in there and did a great job.My discussions with everybody that I have relationships with in here were positive, and whenever I was ready to go, Id be ready to go.There was never any discussion regarding that with me.Cutler said he didnt expect to have a discussion.It didnt concern me, he said. I wasnt ready to play. My thumb wasnt healed.The future, Cutler said, will be an issue when it comes.Whatever happens at the end of the year, its supposed to happen, and will go accordingly, Cutler said. But right now its not something that I worry about.Its my 11th year, my eighth year here. Ive seen a lot of ups and downs, and its how it goes. At the end of the year, we can have those conversations. Whatever happens, happens.Cutler said the thumb sprain is no longer giving him pain.I havent gotten hit, Cutler said. Throwing good -- you cant feel it throwing.Fox on Monday said the plan all along was to bring Cutler back when he was healed, regardless of what he told reporters about performance-based starters.I think Jay kind of knew all along what our plan was, Fox said. And thats the important thing.Cutler said he wanted to return before Monday nights home game against the Minnesota Vikings.I mean, as a player you always want to come back probably sooner than you should, than the doctors allow, Cutler said. This being my right thumb and being kind of vitally important to my job.We thought that erring on the side of caution was best.It wasnt a situation Cutler enjoyed.Ive never liked being hurt, never liked being out, Cutler said. It could get to be a lonely feeling at times watching everyone else go out there and try to win ballgames. Youre kind of just a helpless bystander.So being able to get in the mix and trying to help these guys is going to be fun.Cutler threw in practice on the side the past few weeks, but wasnt involved with team drills except for one brief appearance three weeks ago. Its the first time in his career hes returned to play in a season after a layoff this long.Anytime you take a layoff like that and come back, theres going to be some (rust) youve got to knock off, he said. Luckily I was still around, saw the game, visualized the game, was able to stay behind the quarterback and stay involved, and weve got a long week.When Cutler started out the season with a 75.7 passer rating for two games, he was playing behind a completely revamped offensive line with Josh Sitton and Cody Whitehair making their first Bears starts.Now he returns with Sitton suffering from an ankle injury and right guard Kyle Long suffering from a pectoral muscle strain. Their status for the game is unknown. Eric Kush replaced Sitton and Ted Larsen took over for Long against Green Bay in a 26-10 loss Thursday.Its how it goes, Cutler said. Weve got a bye week after this, so hopefully well get those two guys back. Kush played well. Ted has played a lot of football. The good thing about it is we have had a lot of different guys in there through camp and during the games and stuff.We shouldnt miss a beat with those guys.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLEd Davis Jersey . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Cheap Jazz Jerseys . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. https://www.cheapjazzonline.com/958e-mike-conley-jersey-jazz.html . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Pete Maravich Jersey .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Walt Bellamy Jersey . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St.On the pitch, everything seems to be going well for Watford, who are off to their best Premier League start in club history with 12 points through nine matches. Yet an off-pitch distraction could derail those good feelings ahead of Saturdays match at Vicarage Road against foundering Hull City.The Hornets (3-3-3) are ninth in the table, ahead of Bournemouth on goal difference, but the Football League is investigating the team for what is reportedly a forged document from 2014 -- before Watford were promoted to the Premier League -- during the transfer of the team from Giampolo Pozzo to his son Gino.The document, which was made to appear to be written by HSBC, was designed to prove the younger Pozzo had sufficient funds to be the teams sole owner, claiming it had a cash-backed unsecured bank guarantee up to the amount of GBP 7 million for the funding of The Watford Associated Football Club Limited for the 2014-15 season.The team has done an internal investigation in which it reportedly knows the identity of the person who crafted the letter, and he has since left the organization. But it may also cost team chairman Raffaele Riva his job as multiple reports say he is expected to tender his resignation.Gino Pozzos ownership of the team isnt expected to be affected since neither he nor his father are believed to be aware of what took place. But the English Football League is conducting its own investigation into the matter, and Watford could face penalties ranging from a heavy fine to a possible deduction of points.That last option, though, seems rather drastic since only two teams in Premier League history have been docked points for any occasion. Middlesbrough lost three points in 1996-97 for a postponement unauthorized by the FL, and Portsmouth were docked nine points after going into administration in the 2009-10 season.The team released a statement Wednesday claiming it had no prior knowledge of any concerns about the authenticity of the document and also that Hornets Investment Ltd had invested ￡20 million since the document was given to the Football League.Back on the field, Watford have a win and two draws in their last three matches following a 0-0 deadlock at Swansea City last weekend. The Hornets had to weather a determined Swans side eager to perform ffor new manager Bob Bradley in his home debut, and goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes made a key second-half save to preserve the scoreline.ddddddddddddI believe we played very well in the first half, Gomes said. When they have a new manager with a first game at home, they were very positive, but we held them very well. A goalkeeper has to win points for the club, and thats what Im here for.Hull City (2-1-6) have taken just one point from their last seven matches after their surprising bolt from the gate with back-to-back wins. However, they have momentum on their side after a 2-1 victory at Championship side Bristol City on Tuesday to book a spot in the quarterfinals of the EFL Cup opposite Newcastle United next month. Harry Maguire scored late in the first half and Michael Dawson added a second shortly after the interval to offset a stoppage-time goal by Lee Tomlin.It was the first victory in any match for the Tigers since their EFL Cup victory over Stoke City last month. Manager Mike Phelan is hoping Tuesdays win is a sign of things to come.Weve won our latest game and that will give us that little bit of freshness, the players can come into training on Wednesday and enjoy the day without us finding too many faults.We thought about making a lot of changes to the lineup, but then we also wanted to scratch away at our recent defeats. Weve done that and the players should because at times we looked like a good unit going forward.Hull Citys EFL Cup form is all the more confounding when one considers theyve been outscored 21-4 in their top-division winless drought. More amazingly is all three EFLs victories have come on the road -- the Tigers are 4-7-12 in top-flight play way from home since the start of the 2014-15 season.The Tigers have shipped 11 goals in their last two away Premier League matches, being thumped by Liverpool for five and Bournemouth for six.This is the first Premier League match between the teams, and Watfords 1-0 victory in 2013 in the most recent contest snapped Hull Citys eight-match unbeaten streak (6-2-0) against the Hornets. The Tigers are 3-1-0 in their last four matches at Vicarage Road since a 1-0 defeat in 2007. ' ' '
