LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears had their coach back on Thursday.Although the quarterback and running back remained an entirely different matter.A day after missing practice because of a stomach virus, coach John Fox returned to Halas Hall and said quarterback Jay Cutler is not up to playing in a game at this point.So Cutler sat out of practice Thursday because of a sprained right thumb.I think we just didnt want to aggravate it more, Fox said. Again, a thumb on a throwing hand of a quarterback is a delicate situation. So we just figured we wouldnt go out there and have any stress on it.Cutler, who missed Sunday nights 31-17 loss at Dallas, had practiced Wednesday on a limited basis for the first time since his injury occurred Sept. 19 in a 29-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.Fox said it wasnt a case where Cutlers thumb worsened after Wednesdays practice.No setbacks, just healing, Fox said.However, Cutler hadnt really done much throwing in Wednesdays practice as the winless Bears (0-3) prepared to host Detroit (1-2) Sunday.A clearer situation could present itself Friday, but backup Brian Hoyer continues to lead the offense while Cutler watches.Right now hes really not able, Fox said about Cutler. He can go out there and take snaps, but to be able to throw the ball into tight windows and the things youve got to do in this league to perform at a high level, if we feel good about that tomorrow (Friday) or we feel good about that Saturday, then (we) wouldnt hesitate to put him in.Right now its hard for me to say, until those days hit.Hoyer continues to operate under the uncertainty of whether hell start, but said its merely the life of an NFL backup.For me Im every day trying to prepare to play whatever his status is, Hoyer said. Until someone tells me different Im just preparing like Im going to play and thats if he was playing I would prepare the same way.Hoyer completed 30 of 49 for 317 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions against Dallas, but was just 8-for-12 for 71 yards at halftime. The Bears managed only four first-half first downs and trailed 24-3.Its possible Hoyers job would be easier with the other positions on offense more settled, but running back remains an issue.Starter Jeremy Langford has been out since suffering an ankle injury in Sundays game and backup KaDeem Carey remains out of practice after missing Sundays game entirely with a pulled hamstring.As a result, rookie Jordan Howard has taken first-team snaps and is the likely starter. Howard has 67 rushing yards on 12 attempts this season, but the fifth-round draft pick from Indiana has to display improvement in the passing game as a blocker.Hes getting there, offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. Hes getting closer.In the NFL, its a little bit different than college football with all the different fronts and with all the different personnel packages. Hes working really hard to get caught up to speed with that, but hes doing a nice job as a runner.The Bears rank 30th in the league in rushing and last in time of possession, so the running game has to show drastic improvement.Earlier this week, the Bears signed former Lions running back Joique Bell and hope to have him available after only a few practices for backup duty against his old team.Picking up the offense in such a short time will be a challenge.Asked if Bears coaches were picking his brain for information on the Lions, Bell said, Right now, I think theyre just trying to feed my brain.Game notesGuard Kyle Long (shoulder) went through a full practice after being limited Wednesday. Guard Josh Sitton (shoulder) practiced on a limited basis. ... Defensive end Mitch Unrein (knee) went through a full practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday. ... Safety Harold Jones-Quartey, who had suffered a concussion, was able to practice Thursday on a limited basis.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLDallas Goedert Eagles Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Miles Sanders Eagles Jersey . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Randall-Cunningham-Jersey/ . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. 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It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005.MILAN -- Milan vice president Adriano Galliani says his team will be at a disadvantage in its Italian Super Cup match against Juventus in Qatar after having to cancel its flight on Tuesday.Milan was supposed to fly out to Doha on the same day as Juventus for Fridays game.However, its flight at 3 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) was initially postponed by an hour and a half and then, with a further delay expected because the charter plane was still in London with technical problems, Milan decided to fly out the following day.ddddddddddddWeve suffered a serious sporting disadvantage, Galliani said.Juventus is already there in the warmth, tomorrow theyll train with 20 degrees more than there are in Milan, while we will arrive at night and will only be able to do the finishing touches there, the evening before. ' ' '