The Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Mark Brunell missed practice Wednesday and was listed as questionable on the injury report, furthering the chance rookie Byron Leftwich will make his first career start Sunday for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Coach Jack Del Rio would not divulge his plan for Sunday's game against Houston, leaving open the possibility that Brunell, Leftwich or second-year quarterback David Garrard could start.

"We have three quarterbacks we like. One is injured. We're evaluating him," Del Rio said. "It's day-to-day, and that's where we're at."

Leftwich, a first-round draft pick from Marshall, has been Jacksonville's second-string quarterback in all three games this season. In the last two, he has entered with the game out of hand and led the Jaguars to touchdowns.

Leftwich said he wouldn't put any more pressure on himself to be ready for this week.

"But it's a dream to be out there, playing in the National Football League," he said.

Brunell needed five stitches to repair a laceration to his left elbow, sustained Sunday against the Colts. His arm was in a splint Wednesday.

COLTS: Running back Edgerrin James did not practice because of a bad back and could miss Sunday's game at New Orleans.

But Indianapolis could see the return of running back Dominic Rhodes, who has not played since injuring his knee during last year's training camp.

VIKINGS: Gus Frerotte is working with the first team in practice and could start in place of quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who has three cracked bones in his back, Sunday against San Francisco.

"I'm going to will myself to get healthy," said Culpepper, who could practice Friday.

TITANS: Steve McNair practiced with his right ring finger wrapped in a splint, and coach Jeff Fisher said the knee the quarterback sprained in the season opener is no longer a problem. McNair dislocated the finger in a loss to Indianapolis on Sept. 14.

CHARGERS: Wide receiver David Boston was sent home before practice as a disciplinary measure.

General manager A.J. Smith wouldn't be more specific but did say it wasn't one incident that led to Boston being sent home, but rather, "it's several things."

"Let's just say we've got some guidelines here to adhere to," Smith said. "And David wasn't meeting them to our expectations."

BROWNS: Kelly Holcomb said his broken right leg and sprained left ankle stop him from starting Sunday against Cincinnati.

"I'm playing," Holcomb said before practice. "I mean, you have to think that way."

He said his lower leg, which has a hairline fracture, is improving.

"It feels better than I thought it would," Holcomb said. "But I've still got a lot of healing to do."

BILLS: Travis Henry intends to play Sunday against Philadelphia despite bruised ribs.

"My mind set is I'm playing," said Henry, who was hurt during Sunday's 17-7 loss at Miami.

RAMS: Running back Marshall Faulk had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

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