"Lions coach Jim Schwartz said today he still has not ruled out quarterback Daunte Culpepper for the exhibition finale Thursday night at Buffalo.

Schwartz said Matthew Stafford will start and play about a quarter and a half, regardless of whether Culpepper plays. Culpepper has an eight-stitch cut on the bottom of his foot.

Why even consider playing Culpepper in the fourth exhibition when he's hurt and hasn't practiced this week?

Schwartz said the Lions weren't game-planning for the Bills, just running the same stuff Culpepper has run since the start of training camp, so preparation shouldn't be a problem.

And the injury isn't orthopedic. Schwarz said it was just a pain issue and the doctors will determine before the game whether playing could make it worse.

"The size of the hole and the fact that there's eight stitches in it, the likelihood of it opening back up is pretty thin," Schwartz said. "If there is an issue of him reinjuring it or making it worse, we would do what we did with all the other stuff. We would err on the side of caution."

Brooks Bollinger, signed Tuesday, is scheduled take over for Stafford or Culpepper and play the rest of the game. He practiced with the Lions on Tuesday."