EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — During training camp, the Minnesota Vikings rewarded Daunte Culpepper for a career year with a raise worth almost $8 million in additional guarantees.

As the Vikings and their franchise quarterback were reminded, bonus money is really the only thing that's guaranteed in the NFL. Health sure isn't in this intense, violent game.

Culpepper will miss the rest of the season with a devastating injury to his right knee, further demoralizing this struggling team already stuck in the middle of a big mess.

"Whether it's on the field, in the locker room, practice — he's a guy that's definitely been the leader, true leader, of this team," free safety Darren Sharper said Monday. "We'll have to have other guys step up and fill that void."

Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowl pick whose effectiveness had fallen off dramatically this year due to several factors, tore his anterior cruciate, medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in Sunday's 38-13 loss at Carolina.

"This is just another hurdle we have to overcome," coach Mike Tice said.

Once the swelling subsides, the 28-year-old Culpepper will have surgery and several months of arduous rehabilitation. An injury of this nature typically takes a year to recover, but at least right now the Vikings are optimistic about his status for 2006.

"Our expectations are he's going to be ready for the season," athletic trainer Chuck Barta said.

Culpepper was hurt on the final play of the first quarter, when Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble hit him low at the end of an 18-yard run for a first down.

"I was right behind him, trailing it, and I saw it all happen," center Melvin Fowler said. "It's sad and unfortunate. He's a great player, and he'll be missed for the time that he's out."

Veteran Brad Johnson, who played for the Vikings from 1992-98 and returned to his original team this year, will be the starter. Untested Shaun Hill moves up to second string.

Culpepper finishes with six touchdown passes and a league-high 12 interceptions and an ugly passer rating of 64.4. Last season, he threw for 4,717 yards, 39 TDs and only 11 interceptions with a rating of 110.9 — and set an NFL record for combined yardage passing and rushing.

The Vikings were widely considered one of the best teams in the NFC at the beginning of the year, but they've so far endured two miserable months. Still-unresolved allegations of sexual misconduct by several players on a boat party earlier this month darkened a season that was already deteriorating.

After watching offensive coordinator Scott Linehan leave, trading star receiver Randy Moss and losing injured Pro Bowl center Matt Birk for the season, a once-mighty offense has fallen hard. Culpepper was under constant pressure behind a leaky offensive line and bothered by pre-existing soreness in the knee.

Then came the punctuation.

"Daunte pours his heart and soul into the game and into every play," Johnson said. "It's the first time I've really seen him go down hard. Your heart goes out to him. I hope he recovers as fast as he can."

Johnson is not nearly as nimble as Culpepper, but the 37-year-old has a Super Bowl ring from 2002 with Tampa Bay and the respect of his team.

"The most important thing is just be yourself," he said. "You can't fake it. The proof is putting up points. The proof is winning ballgames."

This is the third time in six seasons as Minnesota's starter that Culpepper will be sidelined. In 2001, he missed the final five games after surgery on a sprained left knee. In 2003, he sat out two games because of an injury to his lower back.

Tice has talked to Culpepper, who was unavailable for comment, a couple of times since the injury.

"His spirits are OK," Tice said. "I think that is the best you can say."