nfl roundup News and notes

Lions: Detroit is turning to a former Pro Bowl quarterback for help in trying to win their first game of the season. Daunte Culpepper has agreed to a two-year deal with the Lions (0-8) and said Monday he would sign it after taking a physical. “As a result of doing some research on different places to play, the Detroit Lions seemed to be the best fit for me,” Culpepper said. “I am encouraged by the commitment of ownership, the vision of management and the great potential of the talent that is on the team. I hope to contribute to the team in whatever role coach [Rod] Marinelli needs for me to play.” The 31-year-old Culpepper was not expected to arrive in Detroit until late Monday due to prior commitments and the contract might not be official until this morning.

Texans: Houston quarterback Matt Schaub injured his knee and will be out at least two weeks, possibly up to a month. Coach Gary Kubiak said officials were still trying to determine the severity of the injury, but that Schaub was on crutches Monday. Schaub injured his medial collateral ligament when he was hit in the knee by Jared Allen in the second quarter of Houston’s loss to Minnesota on Sunday. He was limping after the hit, but finished the second quarter before being replaced by Sage Rosenfels after halftime. Schaub has 1,762 yards passing with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in seven games this season. He sat out one game earlier this season after spending the night in the hospital with a virus.

Vikings: Minnesota could be without defensive end Jared Allen for this weekend’s game against Green Bay. Allen suffered a sprained right shoulder in Sunday’s win over Houston, an injury he played through, and managed two of the team’s five sacks. Afterward, Allen dismissed any concern about his condition by saying, “It’s football. You get beat up.” But Vikings coach Brad Childress said Monday he’s not sure if the 2007 All-Pro player with Kansas City will be able to recover in time to play the archrival Packers. Allen is tied for the team lead with Kevin Williams with seven sacks in eight games.

Bills: Safety Donte Whitner is out indefinitely with a separated right shoulder, leaving the Bills without their vocal leader and most versatile defensive back. Coach Dick Jauron on Monday would only list Whitner as out on a week-to-week basis, while noting the injury was “fairly significant.” The injury comes at a terrible time for the suddenly reeling Bills (5-3), who have dropped three of four and play at New England (5-3) on Sunday in a critical matchup between AFC East rivals. Selected eighth overall out of Ohio State in the 2006 draft, Whitner has been a three-year starter and made 100 tackles in each of his first two seasons. In eight games this season, he’s been credited with 40 tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack.

Broncos: The Denver placed running backs Michael Pittman and Andre Hall on injured reserve, depleting an already thin backfield. Pittman reinjured his neck in a 26-17 loss to Miami on Sunday. He was the team’s leading rusher with 320 yards this season. Hall is out with a left hand injury. Selvin Young has missed the last three weeks with a groin injury, leaving rookie Ryan Torain as the only relatively healthy running back on the roster.

49ers: San Francisco signed tight end Sean Ryan, waiving fullback David Kirtman to make room on the roster. Ryan, a fifth-year pro, spent his first two NFL seasons with Dallas, followed by two years with the New York Jets. He signed with Miami before this season, but was cut after the first game. Ryan then played one game with New Orleans before joining the 49ers. He has played in 37 games in his career.

Giants: The Giants have until Wednesday to make a decision on the future of receiver David Tyree. Tyree, who made “The Catch” in the Super Bowl victory over the Patriots in February, was placed on the physically unable to perform list before the start of training camp because he was still recovering from offseason knee surgery. Tyree was given clearance to practice with the team on Oct. 15, but has been limited by a hamstring injury. The Giants can either move Tyree to the active roster, cut him or place him on injured reserve, which would end his season.

Seahawks: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck may return to practice this week for the first time in more than a month, in a limited role. Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said that doesn’t mean Hasselbeck will play on Sunday at Miami. Holmgren said the bulging disk in Hasselbeck’s back is getting better and his right knee is getting stronger. But the coach reiterated that backup Seneca Wallace is still the team’s quarterback. Defensive end Patrick Kerney is having surgery this week in Alabama on a previously repaired shoulder. Holmgren said Seattle’s top pass rusher could miss either a couple of weeks or the rest of this season, depending on what the surgeon who repaired Kerney’s torn labrum in his left shoulder last winter finds this time.

Bears: One day after leaving the field on a cart, Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton was undergoing more tests on his right ankle to determine the extent of his injury. Orton was injured in the final minute of the first half in Sunday’s 27-23 victory over the Detroit Lions, forcing the Bears to turn to former starter Rex Grossman. And Chicago might be without Orton for the next few weeks. Orton was examined after the game and underwent tests Monday morning, Smith said. More were scheduled for later in the day, but the odds of him being ready for next week’s game against Tennessee certainly did not look good after he went down against the Lions. Asked if the injury was more than just a sprain, Smith said: “It’s an ankle injury. That’s about all I’m going to tell you right now. Wednesday, I’ll tell you more.” He also offered few details about safety Mike Brown’s calf injury, although Smith did say he doesn’t think it’s season-ending. Smith said the Bears have no plans to bring in another quarterback.

Associated Press