Orlovsky close to returning, will he start for Lions?

[Nors]

Orlovsky close to returning, will he start for Lions?:jackpot: :jackpot:

by Tom Kowalski
Tuesday December 02, 2008, 12:15 AM
AP File PhotoLions quarterback Dan Orlovsky could be cleared to practice as soon as Wednesday.

ALLEN PARK -- As of right now, Daunte Culpepper is the starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions and will face one of his former teams, the Minnesota Vikings, on Sunday at Ford Field.

Could all of that change Wednesday?

Quarterback Dan Orlovsky, who has been sidelined with a fractured right thumb for the past four games, could be given clearance to practice then and play Sunday. When asked Monday if that meant a change at quarterback might take place, Marinelli dodged the question.

"He'll go in and see the trainer and see how it all works out," Marinelli said. "We've just got to see (how) close (he) is."

Orlovsky didn't practice Monday, but he did some throwing in individual drills and on the side. Orlovsky threw everything from short passes to airing it out on deeper routes with plenty of zip on the ball.

"I threw today and it was fine," said Orlovsky, who saw a hand specialist last week. "He said everything was healing fine."

Orlovsky said the Lions training staff will see how his thumb reacts today and if there are any setbacks. Then, on Wednesday, he'll visit the medical staff again and a decision will be made on whether he can play Sunday.

"If I can do something to make (the thumb) worse, I'm not going to play. I'm not going to be stupid about it. We'll have to wait and see on Wednesday," Orlovsky said.

If Orlovsky is cleared to play, does he expect to start against the Vikings?

"That's a coaching decision. We'll have to wait and see," Orlovsky said.

Orlovsky and Culpepper each have started four games this season. While Culpepper has committed seven turnovers, Orlovsky has just two, and both were interceptions that he threw in his most recent game after injuring his thumb. Culpepper has fumbled once and thrown six interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns.

When asked about his team's 47-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Thanksgiving, Marinelli said, "We were beaten soundly. We made mistakes, but what compounded it was the turnovers. We turned the ball over three times, and that's going to take a really good team and make it look worse.

"That's a very good team. Could we have played better? No doubt. Ball security would've helped us, (elimination of) some of the penalties would've helped us, but we didn't help ourselves."

Orlovsky also has an edge over Culpepper because he's been in the offense for three years, while Culpepper was signed just a month ago. Last week, Lions offensive coordinator Jim Colletto said the Lions were "limited" because Culpepper still is learning the system.

Furrey disappointed
Receiver Mike Furrey (concussion) was placed on injured reserve and is lost for the season. The Lions signed free agent receiver Keary Colbert to take his spot on the roster.

Furrey told a Detroit radio station that he was upset that he wasn't given more time to recover and a chance to play this season.

"The frustrating part is that there are four games left. Even if I sat out this week, I'd still have three games left. I feel fine and I'm disappointed," Furrey said. "I knew this was a possibility. I knew they were going to do this, but I was hoping we'd wait to see how I felt. They already had somebody in here to take my spot.

"From their side, they needed to get somebody in there who needed to play. I was hoping to (practice) today and be ready to go. I felt good and I wanted to go, but they said they were being protective."

Players on mend
Three offensive linemen who missed all or part of the Thanksgiving Day game -- center Dominic Raiola (thumb), guard Stephen Peterman (knee) and guard Edwin Mulitalo (knee) -- all returned to practice Monday. Rookie running back Kevin Smith (ankle) and rookie right tackle Gosder Cherilus (knee) did not practice but are expected to play Sunday.

Two players who still are questionable this week are defensive end Dewayne White (calf) and cornerback Keith Smith (groin).
See more in Lions Stories

 

[Nors]

Kowalski on WDFN: Orlovsky deserves the starting job, when healthy
by Josh Hakala | MLive.com
Wednesday December 03, 2008, 6:20 PM

At practice on Wednesday, Lions insider Tom Kowalski reported that quarterback Dan Orlovsky is unlikely to return to the starting lineup after feeling pain in his throwing hand. When Orlovsky is healthy again, Kowalski tells Sean Baligian of WDFN-AM Detroit that with Daunte Culpepper struggling, the statistics say the Lions should give him his job back.

"The Lions may go to him to be the starter because if you look at the numbers -- this is how you judge things in Lions land -- their four closest losses were all with Orlovsky at quarterback," says Kowalski. "In his four games, they lost by an average of five points, every other game, they lost by an average of almost 17 points. His only two turnovers in those four starts were after he hurt his thumb in the Chicago game, a couple of interceptions. Culpepper had seven turnovers in his four games."

Listen to the entire interview to hear the Killer talk about why the Lions' talent scouts aren't to blame for the team's poor drafting and how likely it would be for Jeff Backus to move to left guard if the team takes a left tackle with their first pick in 2009.