Deion Out With Cracked Rib

A fractured rib will keep Deion Sanders out of the Dallas Cowboys' final three exhibition games and could dim his chances of playing offense this year, coach Chan Gailey said Wednesday.

Gailey had planned for Sanders, a Pro Bowl cornerback, to spend the rest of the preseason working at wide receiver.

He played the position under previous coach Barry Switzer, but Sanders hasn't had a chance to work out under Gailey or run through his new playbook.

"We'll just have to see how it all falls together," Gailey said.

Sanders was injured during Tuesday night's scrimmage against the New Orleans Saints. Although he is listed as day-to-day, owner Jerry Jones said Sanders likely will be out until the Sept. 6 season opener against Arizona.

Defensive coordinator Dave Campo said Sanders' defensive play won't be hurt by his absence from the rest of training camp.

"He's one of those few, special players who doesn't need to be drilled back and forth all day," Campo said. "He knows what he needs to do and knows where he needs to be."

Sanders, who has declined to talk with the media during training camp, missed three games last season with injuries and the secondary had only seven interceptions, the fewest in the NFL.

Yet Dallas yielded only 156 yards passing per game, the best in the league.

Sanders is the second vital member of the Dallas defense sidelined for the remainder of the preseason. Defensive tackle Leon Lett is out with a sprained left knee.

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