Lions QB Orlovsky out with thumb injury

Nov 7, 2008 - 11:10 PM ALLEN PARK, Michigan (Ticker) -- Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky has been ruled out for Sunday's game, making it increasingly likely that Daunte Culpepper will start against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Orlovsky, who inherited the starter's role in Week Five after Jon Kitna went on injured reserve, suffered a thumb injury on his throwing hand in last week's 27-23 loss to the Chicago Bears.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli shed little light on Orlovsky's injury or who would start against Jacksonville.

"Danny will be out for this game. Orlovsky's out, and that's all I can tell you right now. For this game, he's out," said Marinelli, who stated he was not prepared to name a starter yet.

The choice is between Culpepper, who signed with the team Tuesday, or second-year quarterback Drew Stanton, who has yet to throw an NFL pass.

"They both made a nice step, each of them. I thought today was pretty good, but this is not game speed," Marinelli said of Friday's practice. "That's the thing you can't quite create in practice, is the tempo and the speed. Veterans have the chance to pick that tempo back up and feel it, but we'll see."

That would seem to give Culpepper, a two-time Pro Bowler, the edge over the untested Stanton.

Culpepper, 31, announced his retirement in September after unsuccessfully trying to find work throughout the offseason. He spent last year with the Oakland Raiders and the 2006 campaign with the Miami Dolphins.

A thumb injury also will sideline Detroit center Dominic Raiola, snapping his streak of 104 consecutive starts.