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Chicago Bears' QB Cutler ready for return against Vikings

Jay Cutler will be back at quarterback Monday night for the first time in six weeks, but he'll be leading an offense that has yet to solve the problems that have made the Bears the lowest-scoring team (15.9 points per game) in the NFL.

Cutler, who returns from a sprained thumb, faces the NFL's best defense. The Minnesota Vikings are No. 1 in total yards allowed, tied for first in points allowed, No. 2 in average gain per pass allowed and interception percentage, No. 3 in rushing yards and No. 4 in passing yards allowed. They're also No. 6 in third-down efficiency and sack percentage.

"They've been together for a while, they're relatively healthy and they're playing good football," Cutler said. "They've shown a lot of different looks, especially on third downs. But we've got a group of guys that have seen a lot of it, and we kind of know how to attack it. It's just going to be about execution and guys doing exactly what we need to do."

The Bears have lost four of their last five meetings with the Vikings, averaging just 17.4 points per game. And Cutler is likely to be without the protection of starting right guard Kyle Long (arm) and perhaps left guard Josh Sitton (ankle). Cutler is also not expected to have the security blanket provided by wide receiver Eddie Royal (toe) underneath. Royal and Long are doubtful, while Sitton is questionable.

But former No. 1 running back Jeremy Langford (ankle) has returned to limited practice for the first time since he was injured in Week Three. Adding him to the backfield stable along with Ka'Deem Carey and rookie Jordan Howard gives the Bears plenty of ground options. Establishing a presence in the run game may be the Bears' best chance to keep the Vikings' pass rush off Cutler, who is backed up only by Matt Barkley. Barkley played in just his fifth NFL game last week after Brian Hoyer left with a fractured arm.

Any improvement the Bears' offense has made in recent weeks will be tested by a Vikings defense that hadn't allowed more than 16 points in any game until last week's 21-10 loss to the Eagles.

"We kind of found a little bit of an identity there for a four-week stretch, moving the football," said offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, noting that the Bears piled up impressive yardage totals in Weeks 3-6. But they still lost three of those four games.

"We need to continue to improve our third downs, we need to improve in the red area and we've got to score some more points," Loggains said. "(But Cutler) is coming into an offense now where people understand the system a little bit better. Jordan stepped up and played better, and he's continued to get better.

"Good quarterback play comes down to the other 10 guys doing their job. Hopefully at this point we're better off than we were Week 1, when we had a lot of moving parts, and Week 2 when Jay was playing."

Back then, the O-line had just added Sitton at left guard and moved rookie Cody Whitehair to center. The rookie has matured quickly into a solid starter. But that was with veteran Pro Bowl guards on either side, a luxury he probably won't have against the Vikings.

Sans Sitton and Long, the Bears will go with three-year journeyman Eric Kush, who made his second NFL start last week at left guard, and veteran Ted Larsen at right guard. If Sitton plays, Kush is expected to move over to right guard.

"It's a huge challenge, but those guys need to respond," Loggains said. "Those guys need to play well. There's no excuses. They've practiced. They've been here long enough now that they know the system. They're going to have the challenge of facing a tough defense and really good players."

• Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere.

  Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler hasn't played for six weeks and will make his return against the league's best defense in the Minnesota Vikings. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com
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