Culpepper doubtful with injury, but plans to play has three broken bones in back

[jayC]

Culpepper doubtful with injury, but plans to play
Posted: Monday September 22, 2003 2:51PM; Updated: Monday September 22, 2003 2:51PM





EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Daunte Culpepper will be listed as doubtful for this weekend with three cracked bones in his back, but the Minnesota Vikings' star quarterback still expects to play.

"I'm all right, man," he said. "It's just a little sore."



The official diagnosis is multiple transverse process fractures, coach Mike Tice said.

"It's a very painful injury, but it's certainly one you can play with," Tice said.

Culpepper was hurt late in the second quarter on Sunday at Detroit. He was hit by linebacker Wali Rainer in the end zone after his second rushing touchdown of the game.

The Vikings (3-0) host San Francisco this Sunday.

Gus Frerotte, a veteran of five teams and 10 seasons who signed with Minnesota this year, passed for 184 yards and a touchdown in relief Sunday.

"We'll see how he comes out of it," Frerotte said. "Either way, I'll be ready to go."

Culpepper, who became a starter in 2000, missed the final five games of 2001 with a sprained knee.

This year, his 108.0 passer rating leads the NFL. He has completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 514 yards for five touchdowns and no interceptions -- after leading the league with 23 last season.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 264 pounds, Culpepper is durable and considers himself a fast healer. He won't practice this week until Friday at the earliest.

"I'll be here pretty much 24 hours a day, getting treatment," Culpepper said as he left the team's Winter Park facility.

Minnesota's other superstar, wide receiver Randy Moss, is having trouble with back spasms. Moss aggravated an injury in the first week against Green Bay, and he played through pain Sunday -- managing 85 yards on three receptions.

Moss won't practice, either, until Friday -- if at all this week.

"Oh, he'll play," Tice said. "Are you kidding me? I'm not going to be without two of my best players. I might already be without one of them."

[Murphy3]

the guy's tough as nails..
when i think of tough NFL QB's, i think of him, McNabb, McNair, Favre, and Aikman in 89. of course, i'm speaking of recent QB's..don't want to forget dandy don...

and of course, there's a specific QB or two that showed tremendous guts in college but have yet to receiver their shot in the NFL

[Just211]

Murph? no Quincy? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

i don't think McNabb has reached that level yet
IMO he's just as inconsistant as Quincy.

[Murphy3]

i'm talking about tough QB's..not great QB's..
but, to put McNabb in a class with Quincy isn't accurate

Quincy has looked pretty good this year and McNabb has looked pretty bad..BUT, that doesn't change or completely override what McNabb has done in the past.

[MavsFanatik33]

That guy is crazy, I hope a hard hit doesn't hurt him for a long while. Good luck to him

[Murphy3]

hell, there's so many bones you don't really need. he probably broke a couple of those
bones are overrated

[FilthyFinMavs]

Why? Why risk further injury to your back? Your 3-0.

[Drbio]

I really enjoy watching him play, but if he has broken bones, damn....you HAVE to sit him and let him heal.

[Big Boy Laroux]

ha ha... "bones are overrated" man, we could do such cool stuff if we didn't have bones... like ooze through grates to pick up lost change and stuff like that...

[mavsfanforever]

I think Jeff garcia is the toughest current QB.

[ItalianMobbstah187]

I love watching Daunte, I hope he'll be ok.

[Nicky31]

I like Daunte too, but I think when you have a pro bowl type QB it's a hugh risk. If I was Daunte I would sit out this weekend, and continue physical therapy. The Vikings are 3-0 currently, and can afford to lose a game, but they can't afford to lose Daunte to a big hit and be out the rest of the season.