Lions name Culpepper the starter against Carolina

DETROIT -- Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper will start at quarterback against Carolina on Sunday, coach Rod Marinelli announced.

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"I think this week he has come in and is getting more comfortable, the timing is getting a little bit better," Marinelli said on Wednesday. "I see him just getting better and better as the season goes on."

In his debut with the Lions last week, Culpepper was 5-of-10 for 104 yards in a 38-14 loss to Jacksonville that kept Detroit (0-9) winless. Backup Drew Stanton took over in the fourth quarter.

"There were things that he just did in that game naturally," Marinelli said. "You could see that his movement is still really good."

Culpepper signed a two-year deal with the Lions five days before the Jaguars game, ending his brief retirement after making 11 lackluster appearances the previous two seasons for Oakland and Miami. A knee injury stunted his stellar career three years ago in Minnesota.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this article