The Detroit quarterback is almost certain to miss the Lions' wild-card playoff game against the Washington Redskins on Saturday. Batch, who reinjured his fractured right thumb in a 24-17 loss at Minnesota on Sunday, might need surgery.

	Batch

	Frerotte

"We're seeking a second opinion," coach Bobby Ross said Monday. "We want to be sure if something needs to be done. But I'm figuring he's out for this game."

That means Washington castoff Gus Frerotte, a former Tulsa quarterback who led the Lions to a 33-17 regular season win over the Redskins, will start at quarterback in Washington -- where the Lions never have won.

Rookie Cory Sauter will become the backup.

Batch, who will have his thumb examined again Wednesday, could possibly be available to serve as the Lions' third, or emergency, quarterback on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Lions have signed Jeff Fox, out of Grand Valley State, to serve as their fourth quarterback. He will be available for practices for this week.

Batch first injured the thumb early in the second half of Detroit's eighth game, against the St. Louis Rams. The Lions were 6-2 after winning that game.

Detroit went 2-4 with Frerotte as the starter, so Batch was rushed back. He played the second half against the Chicago Bears and started the final two games.

It didn't help. The Lions (8-8) lost their last four games.

As a result, the Lions carry the longest losing streak into the playoffs since the New York Jets lost their last five games in 1986. But the Jets had started that season 10-1.

"People can say what they want," Ross said. "We're in it, and we're going to play it to win it."

That would be a long shot.

The Lions are 0-17 since the Redskins' franchise moved from Boston. The win over Washington during Week 12 -- which was the Lions' last win -- snapped a string of 16 straight losses to the Redskins dating back to a 14-10 triumph at Tiger Stadium in 1965.

The Lions haven't defeated the Redskins on the road since 1935. The teams last met in the playoffs in 1992 when Washington won 41-10 at RFK Stadium in the NFC Championship Game.

"It shouldn't be any harder winning on the road than it is at home," said Ross, who gave his players Monday off. "But it has been since I've been here."

Batch had completed 17 of 24 for 161 yards and one touchdown against the Vikings before leaving with 3:46 left in the second quarter. He hit his hand on the helmet of center Eric Beverly, who was blocking on a pass intended for Johnnie Morton.

Frerotte has completed 60.8 percent of his passes, connecting on 175 of 288 for 2,117 yards and nine touchdowns. He has been intercepted seven times.