SANTA CLARA, California — Daunte Culpepper threw passes to tight end Nate Lawrie once again, on a little bigger stage this time than during their stint together last year with the United Football League's Sacramento Mountain Lions.Culpepper worked out for some 30 minutes Monday in front of the San Francisco 49ers brass — and Lawrie called it a crisp, impressive session.Offensive coordinator Greg Roman liked what he saw and heard from the veteran quarterback, but was noncommittal about whether San Francisco would sign him.It will come down to whether the Niners want to carry two or three quarterbacks, Roman said."I was catching balls for him during the workout, and he was throwing it around pretty good. He's spinning it well," said Lawrie, who signed a one-year deal with San Francisco on Sunday. "Daunte's got a ton of experience. He's got a lot of success in this league. And the guy can play, he can throw the ball. That's what it all boils down to."The Niners apparently believe Culpepper can still bring it despite a year in the minors, so they gave him a hard look.They were at least considering adding Culpepper to their QB mix after coach Jim Harbaugh said Saturday there could be a need for a veteran backup behind projected starter Alex Smith and rookie Colin Kaepernick.Harbaugh's offense was ineffective in a 24-3 exhibition loss at New Orleans on Friday night — and he is determined to be better come Saturday's home preseason game with the Oakland Raiders at Candlestick Park.Harbaugh wasn't available after Monday's practice, a scheduled day off from his media duties.Tight end Delanie Walker made it sound as if Culpepper had already joined the team. The 49ers had not made any kind of announcement other than Harbaugh acknowledging Sunday that Culpepper would get the tryout.The 34-year-old Culpepper, who was still at team headquarters for lunch, last played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions in 2009. He started five games and played in eight total.Several e-mails to Culpepper went unreturned. He acts as his own agent.In 11 NFL seasons, he has passed for 24,153 yards and 149 touchdowns. A three-time Pro Bowler, he spent his first seven seasons with the Vikings, then one year each with Miami and Oakland before two years in Motown.Houston — Chris Ogbonnaya made the most of his opportunity in Houston's preseason opener, with virtually every other Texans running back hobbled by injuries.Ogbonnaya caught a touchdown pass from Matt Leinart and ran for the winning score in the fourth quarter of the Texans' 20-16 win over the New York Jets on Monday night.The regular starters for both sides only played the first quarter.Mark Sanchez looked sharp, completing 6 of 7 passes, two to Santonio Holmes.Matt Schaub, meanwhile, looked shaky for the Texans. He went 2-for-5 for 20 yards and was sacked once before Leinart replaced him.Ogbonnaya accounted for 104 total yards — 37 on the ground and 67 receiving. He was just about the last running back standing for Houston after Derrick Ward left in the first half with a head injury.
