Culpepper will get his chance to start for the Lions against the Jaguars
November 9, 2008
(Philadelphia, PA) --- Earlier this week we found out that former Lions starting quarterback Dan Orlovsky's injured throwing hand has a torn ligament and two fractures in the thumb suffered on the first play of last week's loss at Chicago. With the fourth-year pro out indefinitely, all signs point to the recently signed Daunte Culpepper to start this week as the winless Lions host the Jaguars. Culpepper (signed a two-year contract on November 2nd) has taken the majority of the first-team snaps in practice this week and is expected to get the start over Drew Stanton.
I will be watching Daunte's first start in almost a year (last played in 2007 during week 12 against the Chiefs) with great interest. The big quarterback out of Central Florida has always been a player that I have liked to watch develop and we will see if he still has the goods. The knee injury that Culpepper suffered in 2005 has dogged him ever since and here's hoping that he can return close to his MVP-type 2004 season form where he threw for over 4,700 yards with 39 TDs and 2 TDs rushing.
For his career Culpepper's passing numbers are 1,867-2927, 63.8%, 22,422 yards, 142 TDs, 94 INTs with 484 yards and 33 TDs rushing. I don't need to tell you that those numbers are pretty nice considering the number of underwhelming quarterbacks playing in the NFL today, so it is nice to see the 32-year old quarterback get his shot. Hopefully Culpepper will be able to lead the Lions to their first victory of the season thus avoiding the horrible distinction of the only team in NFL history to go 0-16.
--- Submitted by Lloyd Vance
