Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna had an MRI exam on his injured back and could miss Sunday's game at Minnesota.
Kitna missed practice Wednesday, three days after leaving the Lions' game against the Chicago Bears at halftime with back spasms. Coach Rod Marinelli said he doesn't know yet whether Kitna will be available Sunday, putting his streak of 36 consecutive starts in jeopardy.
Marinelli said he considers Kitna day to day, and didn't have a difinitive answer as to how much the veteran would need to practice in order to play.
"Obviously, you'd like guys to practice, but you just have to see each day where we're at and kind of go by there," Marinelli said. "I don't have a great feel yet. He's sore though."
Backup Dan Orlovsky and third-stringer Drew Stanton split practice time Wednesday.
Orlovsky replaced Kitna in the third quarter -- the earliest the fourth-year pro has come into a game -- and completed 13 of 23 passes for 97 yards with one interception in Detroit's 34-7 loss.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
