Every day, Jon Kitna is challenging Tony Romo to something.

Their competitions are friendly but serious, an attempt to make each other better. The one thing they're not competing for is to be the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.

Kitna understands that is Romo's job. As the backup, Kitna figures one of his duties is keeping Romo as sharp as possible, which is why he's always finding ways to spice up practice.

Cowboys WR Roy Williams believes the Cowboys' coaches, particularly play-caller Jason Garrett, have confidence in him. He points to the playbook, which includes a bunch of plays designed to get him the ball, as proof. Williams, who has made it a priority to earn Romo's trust this off-season, certainly helps his cause when he makes plays like his over-the-head grab of an off-target deep ball during the morning practice. That's one way to make sure Romo keeps coming back to him. "Just catch the ball when he throws it to me, any way I can," Williams said. "And buddy him up -- bring him some food, let him borrow some money if he needs some, just be his best friend. "I've just got to continue to be his best friend. Put my arm around him and hug him, tell him that his girlfriend looks good, and we'll go from there." Williams was just kidding about the Jessica compliments, but he's dead serious about building a rapport with Romo similar to the one the coachable WR had with new Cowboys backup Jon Kitna in Detroit.

The Lions and Cowboys struck a deal on the second day of free
agency with Dallas acquiring veteran quarterback Jon Kitna in
exchange for cornerback Anthony Henry. Kitna played in four games
for the Lions in 2008, throwing for 758 yards on 68-of-120 passing
with five touchdowns and five interceptions. Kitna landed on the
injured reserve list with a back injury in October, ending his
three-year tenure in Detroit. The Central Washington product is a
12-year NFL veteran with a five-year stint in Cincinnati after
spending his first four years in the league with Seattle. The 36-
year-old has thrown for 27,293 yards and 152 touchdowns with a
59.8 completion percentage and 151 interceptions over 128 career
games. Kitna is entering the final year of a four-year contract
signed in 2006 with his remaining $1.95 million base salary to be
covered by Dallas.

Mlive.com: Former Lions WR Mike Furrey said during a radio
interview today that Detroit's QBs have been informed that Daunte Culpepper will be the starter for the '09 season. A team source,
however, said Furrey's information is incorrect. While Culpepper
could be considered the best option currently on the Lions'
roster, that doesn't mean the team isn't going to bring in another
player from the outside. A few days ago, Lions GM Martin Mayhew
said he was still deciding the fate of Culpepper and Jon Kitna.

Mlive.com: Grand Rapids Press columnist Brian VanOchten joined
Bill Simonson inside the "GR Press Box" to talk about the latest
with the Detroit Lions, including an early prediction on who he
thinks will start next year's season opener for Detroit. "If I had
to bet $1 one of the five quarterbacks the Lions used last season
as their starter (for next season), I'd put it on Jon Kitna,"
VanOchten said. "He makes the most sense. He can be their Kerry Collins. (Lions coach Jim Schwartz) may just want a quarterback to
come in and just sort of keep things under control. Jon Kitna is
the most qualified to do that."

Detroit News: The weeklong uncertainty surrounding Jon Kitna's
injury status continues, a day after the Lions' QB - out because
of a back injury - missed his 1st start in two-plus seasons in
Detroit. And with the NFL trade deadline looming at 4 p.m. today,
that only adds to the confusion about the veteran quarterback's
future with the team. Will Kitna be traded, released or possibly
placed on injured reserve? There were no concrete answers from
anyone in Allen Park on Monday, though GM Martin Mayhew did say
early in the afternoon that the 36-year-old Kitna, who didn't make
the trip to Minnesota with the team for Sunday's 12-10 loss to the
Vikings, had not asked to be traded. As for Kitna's injury,
though, it was anybody's guess where things really stand.

The Lions placed Jon Kitna (back) on IR Tuesday.
Meaning, he is done for the season.

Detroit News: The weeklong uncertainty surrounding Jon Kitna's
injury status continues, a day after the quarterback -- sidelined
by an unspecified back injury -- missed his first start in two-
plus seasons with the Lions. Kitna told the Associated Press on
Monday that he was unsure of his availability for Sunday's game
against the Texans. But he said his back injury isn't serious and
he expects to play this season, a sign that he would resist an
attempt by the team to place him on injured reserve, ending his
season. Coach Rod Marinelli on Monday again declined to discuss
Kitna's future -- immediate or long-term -- more than a week after
he left the second half of the Lions' 34-7 loss to Chicago
complaining of back spasms. Kitna underwent an MRI exam on his
back Wednesday and met with a specialist Friday, but the team has
declined to discuss the results of either visit.

Mlive.com: The Lions could be faced with some tough decisions at
QB for the next several weeks. Dan Orlovsky got his first NFL
start in Sunday's 12-10 loss to the Vikings and it appears he
might be starting again next week against the Texans. Lions
management has refused to answer any questions about the long-term
health of QB Jon Kitna, who missed all of last week with back
problems. Kitna had an MRI and also consulted a spine specialist,
but the Lions refuse to discuss details of Kitna's health. Kitna
did not make the trip to Minnesota. Lions coach Rod Marinelli said
the organization would huddle Monday morning and discuss Kitna's
future. While Orlovsky has been the backup all season, he's on a
one-year contract. Drew Stanton, last year's second-round draft
pick, appears to be the future of the team. Stanton finally is
healthy after spraining his right thumb in the preseason and took
half the snaps in practice last week. If Kitna is going to miss an
extended period of time, the Lions will have to make a decision of
when -- or if -- to make the switch from Orlovsky to Stanton.

4for4 reports: Lions inactives: QB Drew Henson (3rd), QB Jon Kitna, LB Gilbert
Gardner, G Stephen Peterman, DT Damion Cook, DT Andre Fluellen, DE
Ikaika
Alama-Francis and DE Landon Cohen.