MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Gus Frerotte started in Daunte Culpepper's
place for Minnesota's game against San Francisco on Sunday, a week
after Culpepper broke three small bones in his lower back and
partially fractured a fourth.
Frerotte worked with the first team in practice all week. But
Culpepper returned to practice on Friday after showing good
progress and was upgraded from doubtful to questionable.
Culpepper suited up for Sunday's game and participated in
pre-game warmups. He was listed as the team's No. 2 quarterback for
the game with Shaun Hill the emergency QB.
Culpepper, who leads the NFL with a 108.0 passer rating, was
hurt at Detroit when he was hit in the end zone after his second
rushing touchdown of the game by Lions linebacker Wali Rainer.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)