Tarvaris Jackson has the starting quarterback job in Minnesota, and a new backup in veteran Kelly Holcomb.

The Vikings traded an undisclosed 2009 draft pick to Philadelphia on Monday for the 12-year veteran who has 21 career starts, nearly twice as many as the other three quarterbacks on the roster combined.

Coach Brad Childress also announced that Jackson, a second-round pick out of Alabama State a year ago with two career starts, will be the opening-day starter. Holcomb will compete with Brooks Bollinger for the backup job.

Patriots

Cornerback Asante Samuel returned from his holdout that cost him a month of the preseason. Samuel, who tied for the NFL lead with 10 interceptions last season, was at Gillette Stadium taking a physical, but did not practice.

Coach Bill Belichick didn’t know if the fifth-year veteran could play in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Giants.

The Patriots applied the franchise tag to Samuel in February, guaranteeing him a one-year, $7.79 million contract, but preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Raiders

Coach Lane Kiffin narrowed his choice for a starting quarterback to Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper. Both will share time in Thursday’s preseason finale in Seattle, with McCown starting and Culpepper his backup.

49ers

Frank Gore wants some action before the season begins. Coach Mike Nolan probably won’t listen to his Pro Bowl running back’s pleas.

Gore, who led the NFC with 1,695 yards rushing last season, hasn’t suited up since breaking his right hand on the second day of training camp. With his hand almost completely healed, he has participated in certain drills during practice in the last two weeks.

Lions

Detroit will put second-year free safety Daniel Bullocks on injured reserve after he tore an anterior cruciate ligament. Bullocks led all NFC rookie defensive backs with 70 tackles last season.

Steelers

Kevan Barlow, who signed with his hometown Steelers earlier this year, was among 10 players released.

Giants

Special-teams standout David Tyree will be sidelined up to six weeks because of a broken left wrist. Tyree will have surgery, coach Tom Coughlin said, adding that the team was willing to keep him on the roster.

Dolphins

Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter returned to practice Monday, less than three weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Porter was optimistic he’ll play in the opener at Washington.

Panthers

While guard Jeremy Bridges practiced with teammates Monday, his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf for a misdemeanor assault charge for pointing a gun at a woman outside a strip club.

Attorney George Laughrun said a trial date was set for Oct. 2.

Bridges was arrested July 26, a day before players reported to training camp. The Panthers later suspended him for the first two games of the regular season for conduct detrimental to the team. He’ll miss games against St. Louis and Houston.

Bridges could also face further disciplinary action under the NFL’s personal-conduct policy.