The Detroit Lions might have to choose between Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton as their starting quarterback Sunday against Jacksonville. And if that pair is the only option, apparently the Lions feel they have little choice at all.
Current starter Dan Orlovsky suffered a thumb injury in Sunday's 27-23 loss at Chicago, and multiple news outlets are reporting he might not be ready to play against the Jaguars. That would leave Stanton, whom offensive coordinator Jim Colletto said last week wasn't ready to play, as the only alternative to Culpepper -- who wasn't expected to sign his Lions contract until late Monday.
The Lions didn't acquire Culpepper to ease him slowly into their offense, but I can't see how either side will be served well by such a quick turnaround. Even if Culpepper has been studying the Lions' playbook from the moment he worked out last Tuesday -- unlikely, since most teams don't hand them out to unsigned players -- the real learning doesn't happen until actual practice repetitions begin. I'm not sure playing Culpepper against the Jaguars puts him in a position to succeed.
It's quite an indictment of the Lions' opinion of Stanton that Culpepper, or anyone else, could jump in front of him in line so fast. But all indications suggest that's exactly what has happened.
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Kevin Seifert
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and daughter.