Culpepper’s Status for Sunday in Doubt

Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper is attempting to make a quick recovery from a sprained right ankle suffered in the Vikings’ loss to the Green Bay Packers Sunday.

Though Culpepper has not been ruled out for the Vikings’ regular-season finale at Indianapolis, the injury typically requires as long as a month to heal. Culpepper was walking Monday with a cast, which is expected to come off Wednesday when his status will be evaluated.

The Vikings (11-4) have already clinched a playoff berth and can get a first-round bye with a victory this Sunday.

“It’s a regular-season game, not the playoffs,” Viking Coach Dennis Green said. “We have to do everything we can do to get Daunte healthy. If that’s 1-2 weeks, that’s what it’s got to be.”

Culpepper has never missed a game because of injury at the high school, college or professional level, though he said he played after spraining the ankle during his sophomore season at Central Florida.

Bubby Brister is being prepared to step in for Culpepper, a familiar role in his 14-year career. He started four games in 1998 for an injured John Elway during the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl championship run.

In other Viking player developments:

* Test results of an MRI taken on running back Robert Smith’s right knee after Sunday’s loss were negative, revealing only some “floating particles,” according to Green. Smith is attempting to play his first full season in eight years in the NFL.

* Free safety Orlando Thomas is likely to make his return after being sidelined eight weeks because of a broken left shoulder bone. Last season, he broke his right shoulder bone. According to studies of NFL injuries over the past decade, fewer than 10 players have broken the scapula bone located under an area heavily padded by tissue. Thomas has two of those injuries.

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Dave McGinnis, 1-7 as the interim coach of the Arizona Cardinals, has signed on for four years as the team’s head coach. McGinnis said at a news conference he has been granted wide authority by owner Bill Bidwill over the team’s personnel decisions. McGinnis, who took over as interim coach after Vince Tobin was fired seven games into the season with a 2-5 record, is the Cardinals’ fifth head coach since the franchise moved to Arizona from St. Louis in 1988. . . . Washington safety Matt Stevens, who led the Redskins in interceptions last season, was released and wide receiver Andre Reed and tight end James Jenkins were placed on injured reserve. Stevens missed a tackle on the 53-yard punt return touchdown by Pittsburgh’s Hank Poteat in the Redskins’ loss to the Steelers Saturday. Coach Terry Robiskie said Stevens’ error was the last of “a lot of things that have accumulated” from a player counted on to be a solid contributor on defense and special teams. Reed, who suffered a hamstring injury Saturday, is third on the NFL career list with 951 receptions, but was used sparingly this season (10 passes for 103 yards). Jenkins, one of only two players left from the Redskins’ last Super Bowl team in 1992, complained last week about playing time. Quarterback Jeff George did not practice Monday because of a strained back. Robiskie said if George doesn’t practice Wednesday, then Brad Johnson probably will start the season finale against Arizona. . . . Quarterback Troy Aikman could play in the Dallas Cowboys’ season finale against Tennessee. Aikman is recovering from his second concussion of the season and 10th of his career, which he suffered Dec. 10 against Washington. He worked out Monday. “At this point, we’re going to continue to evaluate Troy,” Coach Dave Campo said. “He has not been ruled out yet.” If Aikman can’t play, Anthony Wright will make his second NFL start.

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New York Jet linebacker Bryan Cox underwent surgery for a broken right leg suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions. He will be replaced by Dwayne Gordon, a seven-year player who was released by two teams before this season. The Jets, meanwhile, signed kicker Brett Conway after John Hall missed a field goal with nine seconds remaining in rainy conditions against Detroit. Hall has made 21 of 32 field-goal attempts, with only two kickers on current NFL rosters--Oakland’s Sabastian Janikowski and Cincinnati rookie Neil Rackers--having made made a lower percentage this season. . . . Denver Coach Mike Shanahan said quarterback Brian Griese, sidelined five weeks because of a shoulder injury, will practice at full speed Wednesday. . . . Buffalo Coach Wade Phillips said quarterback Rob Johnson, who left Sunday’s loss to New England with a concussion, still has headaches and probably won’t practice this week, meaning Doug Flutie is likely to start Saturday at Seattle. Defensive end Phil Hansen (knee) and running back Sammy Morris (ankle) won’t play. . . . Wide receiver Bert Emanuel will not play in Miami’s regular-season finale against New England, and could be out of the postseason with a broken rib. Emanuel has been a disappointment, with only seven catches for 132 yards and a touchdown.