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Cutler has simple reason for his struggles vs. Pack

In eight starts as a Bear, quarterback Jay Cutler is 1-7 with a 54.1 passer rating that includes 8 TD passes and 17 interceptions.

Including the 2010 NFC championship game, in which he suffered a sprained knee just before halftime and did not finish, Cutler has lost five straight to Green Bay.

Asked to explain his struggles against the Packers, Cutler said: “We weren’t as good on offense.”

That’s true. Cutler has never had tight end Martellus Bennett in his arsenal. He had the rookie version of Alshon Jeffery in 2012, when he displayed just tiny glimpses of what he has accomplished in a breakout second season.

But Cutler says he won’t be looking for personal vindication Sunday in the NFC North winner-take-all season finale.

“It’s going to take all of us to win this game,” Cutler said. “This isn’t a personal game for anybody in that locker room. It’s all of us together.”

And Cutler says he’s not concerned about the Packers having Aaron Rodgers back at quarterback for the first time in nearly two months.

“I play offense,” Cutler pointed out. “Lance (Briggs) and those guys are going to worry about it.”

In and out:

After two days off followed by Wednesday’s walk-through, the Bears started Thursday’s practice outside but were forced to move into the Walter Payton Center to finish because of sloppy conditions.

“The field got very soft and muddy,” coach Marc Trestman said. “Our guys were sliding around. It became a safety issue. We had a really good start, but the safety of the players was an issue so we gave them 20 minutes. They went and changed their shoes and we had a very good practice.”

Injury report:

Linebacker Lance Briggs (shoulder) was a full participant in practice, but wide receiver Earl Bennett was back home in Texas attending to “a very personal family issue,” according to coach Marc Trestman.

For the Packers, linebacker Clay Matthews (thumb) remains out, and running back Eddie Lacy (ankle) and middle linebacker Brad Jones (ankle) did not practice.

Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (knee), linebacker Nick Perry (foot), tight end Andrew Quarless (ankle) and defensive end/linebacker Mike Neal (abdomen) were limited.

Coming and going:

Wide receiver/return specialist Chris Williams was signed off the Saints’ practice squad, where he had spent the previous 12 weeks, and defensive tackle Christian Tupou was waived.

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Williams entered the NFL in 2009 as an undrafted free agent with the Dolphins out of New Mexico State. In 2012, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, he set a Canadian Football League record with 6 return touchdowns to go along with 1,117 punt-return yards and 83 receptions for 1,298 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns.

Tupou played briefly in six games and had 2 tackles.

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