Detroit Lions expect the best from Brian Hoyer

Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) prepares to throw a pass against the Dallas Cowboys in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

By Paula Pasche | The Oakland Press

PUBLISHED: September 30, 2016 at 3:55 p.m. | UPDATED: June 17, 2021 at 6:44 a.m.

ALLEN PARK >> It appears that Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer will get his second straight start on Sunday when the Lions play at Soldier Field.

Jay Cutler, who is dealing with an injured thumb on his throwing hand, has been declared doubtful for Sunday.

Whoever is at quarterback, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said the Lions will be prepared. He expects the Bears will run the same offense no matter which quarterback plays.

“I think Brian Hoyer is, he’s able to run it. Very smart quarterback, knows how to lead the team, doesn’t turn the ball over. He’s always going to be doing positive things, I think, for the offense,” Austin said. “The thing you do miss, I think he’s got good arm strength, obviously Jay Cutler’s got a little bit different, he’s one of the unique guys in this league in terms of arm strength. But, Brian Hoyer’s got enough arm strength, enough savvy, enough accuracy to run the offense exactly as they want.”

The Bears (0-3) have been outscored 83-45 in their three losses. Cutler started the first two games, but couldn’t finish the second game against the Eagles. Hoyer started last Sunday in the 31-17 loss at Dallas.

Hoyer, of course, is familiar in Michigan since he played at Michigan State from 2005 to 2008.

Five things to know about Hoyer:

1. He spent last season playing 11 games for the Houston Texans. Then signed in April as the backup to the Bears. He is used to being a backup. “I’ve been a starter for two different teams, so to be thrust into that role again is something that I’m not unfamiliar with. I’m really just taking it day to day. With Jay’s status we don’t really know, just kind of going out there every day and taking it one day at a time,” Cutler said on a conference call this week.

2. Lions safety Glover Quin came out of college the same year as Hoyer in 2008. “The thing we do know is he’s an eight-year guy, he’s been around, is a veteran. He’s got great arm strength, he can throw the ball. We have to do a good job of controlling what we can control. Do our job, hopefully we can force him into some mistakes,” Quin said.

3. Hoyer knows how he likes to approach it when he gets called on to start. “I think it’s just going out there, run the huddle, command, show these guys I know what to do and just earn their respect,” Hoyer said. “The leadership role, that kind of comes with being the quarterback of getting everyone aligned, getting everything setup, but I think that comes with showing the command and the knowledge of you know how to do this. You know how to be a quarterback in the NFL.”

4. On what he expects from the Lions banged-up defense. “When (Ezekiel) Ansah and (DeAndre) Levy aren’t out there, those are two of their better players. The other guys are filling in and you know you have some talented secondary guys,” Hoyer said. “I know Tavon Wilson from New England, he’s obviously a good player, well coached. (Darius) Slay, obviously a very talented corner, so you know it’s definitely going to be a challenge just like it is every week in the NFL. We have injuries, they have injuries, that’s just the nature of the business.”

5. Hoyer and Matthew Stafford played against each other in their final college games when Stafford’s Georgia Bulldogs beat Hoyer’s Michigan State Spartans 24-12 in the 2009 Capital One Bowl. “I remember meeting him there, obviously through the (NFL) Combine. It’s actually crazy because last week we just played the Cowboys. Mark Sanchez was there and a list of the quarterbacks that were in my draft class. It’s me, Mark (Sanchez) and Matt (Stafford) are the only ones that are left and I wasn’t even drafted, so it’s cool to finally get a chance to play against Matt,” Hoyer said.