JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars had a much different feel to their locker room yesterday. There was no one playing dominoes, no one blaring music and no one watching television.

There was no Mike Peterson, either.

Coach Jack Del Rio sent the middle linebacker and team captain home yesterday, two days after Del Rio questioned his team's chemistry.

It was unclear what prompted Del Rio's decision, but there was speculation it could have been because Peterson flexed his muscles following a tackle Sunday with the team trailing 21-3.

"We're working through this process seeking an appropriate conclusion," Del Rio said in a statement released after practice.

Del Rio clearly wants more from the struggling Jaguars (3-5), who are coming off consecutive losses to Cleveland and Cincinnati and fading out of the AFC playoff picture.

He reassigned at least six players to new lockers, moving offensive guys into defensive sections and vice versa. He also told the team he didn't want any distractions — music, televisions, games — going on in the locker room.

"There's no magic speech or words or fairy dust or anything like that," Del Rio. "That's why coaches always talk about going back to work. You have to get ready for that next opportunity, and when you get that next opportunity, play well."

Peterson, voted a captain by teammates and clearly the defensive leader, leads the Jaguars with 85 tackles. But he hasn't been one of Del Rio's favorites, especially not after Peterson ripped the organization for not offering him a contract extension during the offseason.

Peterson vowed to play out the remaining year of his six-year deal and then hit the free agency market.

Del Rio could be ready to move on now. He said yesterday that changes on the field could follow those in the locker room.

COWBOYS

Tony Romo was back under center at practice yesterday, once again zipping passes to Terrell Owens. Expect him to be doing so the next time the Dallas Cowboys play, too.

Romo's return from a broken pinkie on his throwing hand is coming along as expected. The clunky cast he wore the last three weeks has been replaced by a small splint covering only the pinkie. He wasn't even wearing it between a walkthrough and a practice yesterday.

"It's still not all the way healed, but it's getting there," Romo said. "I can definitely grip the ball much better."

Romo was hurt during a loss to Arizona on Oct. 12.

LIONS

The Detroit Lions tried to be coy about how much Daunte Culpepper practiced yesterday and whether their new quarterback will play just days after signing.

In the locker room, though, it seemed obvious Culpepper is expected to make his Lions debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"We're throwing him in the fire right away," captain Cory Redding said. "I feel like it's something he can handle."

Coach Rod Marinelli and Culpepper declined to reveal how the first-string snaps were shared between the former star and second-year pro Drew Stanton.

ELSEWHERE

Giants: Super Bowl star David Tyree, who made "The Catch" in New York's victory over New England in February, was placed on injured reserve by New York. The move was made after Tyree ran out of time trying to get back on the field following offseason knee surgery and then a hamstring injury.

Patriots: New England's secondary is so banged up that it started recycling preseason retreads when cornerback Jason Webster was back in the locker room yesterday after a hamstring injury sidelined him for most of training camp and contributed to his release on Aug. 26.

Steelers: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger rested his sore right shoulder yesterday, and although his latest tests showed no additional damage, Pittsburgh might not know until late in the week if he can play Sunday against Indianapolis. Byron Leftwich practiced with the regulars and is ready if needed.