ALLEN PARK —  Daunte Culpepper will start Sunday’s game at Baltimore. Coach Jim Schwartz made the announcement this afternoon. Usually the coach keeps his starters unknown until game time, so this was a bit of a switch.

“There hasn’t been any change in his diagnosis or medical reports,’’ Schwartz said of Stafford.

He said Stafford is no worse for the wear structurally, but is dealing with an immense amount of pain. “We just want to avoid the continuing cycle of come back, get hit, come back get hit,’’ Schwartz said.

Stafford separated his left, non-throwing shoulder on Nov. 22. He aggravated it late in Sunday’s loss at Cincinnati.

The coach would not say whether this is just a one-week deal. This will be Culpepper’s third start this season. He filled in for Stafford against Pittsburgh and at Green Bay when the rookie was out with an injured knee.

For more on the quarterback situation, see Thursday’s Oakland Press.
— PAULA PASCHE