Finally, some good news for the scuffling Chicago Bears: Quarterback Jay Cutler will return from a thumb injury to play against the Minnesota Vikings Monday.

Whether it’s too late for Cutler to salvage something for the Bears (1-6) — or perhaps his own career in Chicago — remain valid questions.

“I think he’s been at the bit for a while,” coach John Fox said Monday. “I think anytime you can’t play as a competitor, as a player, obviously that’s hard and I think he handled it great.”

Fox said team doctors cleared Cutler to play over the weekend. His return comes at an opportune time since backup Brian Hoyer broke his left arm against Green Bay on Thursday night and had surgery. He was placed on injured reserve, and the Bears have not ruled out picking up another quarterback.

Matt Barkley replaced Hoyer in the loss at Green Bay.

Cutler completed 28 of 46 for 373 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in a game and a half before his thumb sprain against Philadelphia in a 29-14 loss Sept. 19. He had a passer rating of 75.7

Hoyer completed 134 of 200 for 1,445 yards with six touchdowns and a passer rating of 98.0. His 200 attempts without an interception are only five shy of the franchise record set in 2008 by Kyle Orton.