Dan Orlovsky returned to practice Wednesday for the first time in more than a month, but he did not look comfortable throwing the ball with a fractured right thumb. Daunte Culpepper, who left last week's loss to Minnesota with a shoulder injury, did not take part in individual drills Wednesday and his status for Sunday's game at Indianapolis is not known.

Culpepper, who's started the past five games since signing as a free agent Nov. 4, was in uniform during pre-practice stretching, but walked off the field and did not return during the open portion of Wednesday's workout.

If neither he nor Orlovsky can play against the Colts, Drew Stanton likely will make his first career start. Stanton was the emergency third quarterback last week in his return from a concussion, behind Culpepper and Drew Henson.

Travis Fisher and Shaun McDonald also took part in the individual portion of practice Wednesday, though Fisher was not on the field at the start of the workout.