"Now that coach Jim Schwartz has named rookie Matthew Stafford the starting quarterback, could the Lions trade veteran Daunte Culpepper? Has Culpepper, who acts as his own agent, communicated a desire to play elsewhere?

Schwartz said Monday he would keep his conversations with Culpepper private, but he said he was happy with the quarterback position.

"I think it's going to be a strength on our team, and I don't think that we're in a position of getting rid of good players," Schwartz said.

Culpepper declined to speak to reporters Monday, when he returned to practice after sitting out last week with a cut foot. But the last time he spoke publicly, after the Aug. 29 exhibition against Indianapolis, he made it clear how important winning the starting QB job was to him.

"I'm looking at this as an opportunity for me to put myself back on the map, show I'm healthy," Culpepper said then.

Culpepper turned down opportunities to be a backup for Pittsburgh and Green Bay last season. He retired, then signed with the Lions in early November when it was clear he would have a chance to play.

He restructured the year left on his contract and lost more than 30 pounds in the off-season. He said he felt better than he had since a severe knee injury derailed his career in 2005.

"I want to say this: Daunte Culpepper is back," Schwartz said. "There is no doubt in my mind. I don't think there's any doubt around the league. The commitment that he made over the last six months to get back to being a starting NFL quarterback, that's obvious. That's apparent. He's going to be back as a starting quarterback at some time in this league."

Even if the Lions wanted to trade Culpepper, it might be difficult because No. 3 QB Drew Stanton is recovering from knee surgery. Schwartz said Stanton was "not going to be ready for a few weeks.""