Right now, Miami Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper's status is still uncertain for this week's game against the New England Patriots. He is battling a bruised right shoulder, but he did practice on Friday. He hasn't played well all season, so a switch to Joey Harrington for a week may be what the Dolphins need to shake things up offensively. During the first four games, Culpepper has already been sacked 21 times.

"He wants to play in the game and we have to make a decision whether he's physically capable of doing that," said Dolphins head coach Nick Saban. "He practiced OK today. ... We want to put him in a situation where he can be successful. If we feel like he can do that, he'll be ready to go in the game. If that's not the case, then that's why Joey was brought here."

Culpepper was added to the team's injury report on Thursday after mentioning that he was feeling the pain after being hit so often this season. Some believe he has not fully recovered from reconstructive knee surgery a year ago.

"I think everybody knows he's not the Daunte of the way he's played before, relative to his mobility, movement, quickness, explosive quickness," Saban said. "By the cumulative effect of some of the hits and so forth that he's taken in the games, I just noticed that maybe this was having some effect on him."

Culpepper has only thrown for 929 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions during his first four games. Meanwhile, Harrington has looked solid in practice, but the Dolphins don't want to jump the gun and get themselves involved in another quarterback platoon so soon.

"Both guys would basically execute pretty much the same things," Saban said. "I think there are differences that one guy may like certain plays better than another. Short of calling (Patriots coach Bill Belichick) and telling him what those are, I think that's not something I'd like to share with anybody here."

Also, running back Sammy Morris could be back after being suspended for the first four games of the season. If he returns, he would probably be the third running back behind starter Ronnie Brown and backup Lee Suggs.