Wednesday, December 2, 1998

Kevin Smith out 2-4 weeks

By DENNE H. FREEMAN AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Coach Chan Gailey's decision to have cornerback Kevin Smith return punts against Minnesota came back to haunt the Dallas Cowboys.

Smith was hit in the back on an 11-yard punt return against the Vikings in the first half and an MRI on Tuesday showed there was muscle damage.

"Kevin will be out two to four weeks," said Gailey, who defended his use of Smith as a punt returner because Deion Sanders and Chris Warren, normally the punt returners, were injured. Wide receiver Jeff Ogden, who is a capable kick returner, also was unavailable because of injury.

"He was the only guy on the team who had ever returned a punt and I didn't have a choice," said Gailey.

Terry Billups, freshly activated off the practice squad, was pressed into duty against Minnesota in the 46-36 loss on Thursday.

Because of the injury, both Dallas cornerbacks will miss Sunday's game in New Orleans.

Gailey has all but ruled out Sanders, who has a sprained left big toe, "unless there is some miraculous recovery."

With four weeks to go and leading the NFC East by two games, the Cowboys are stuck with a patchwork secondary that may last until the playoffs.

"The guys coming in will just have to play well," Gailey said. "Everybody will have to shoulder the load. Everybody has a star on his helmet. At least we know our problems and can work on them."

After the Saints, Dallas is at Kansas City and finishes the season at home against Philadelphia and Washington. The magic number to clinch the division title for the Cowboys is two - any combination of Dallas victories or Arizona losses.

Gailey said he hoped Kevin Mathis, who has missed the last month with a broken right arm, will be able to work at one cornerback spot. Mathis, who also returns kicks. is wearing a soft cast on his right forearm.

Charlie Williams - who played in place of Sanders last week - will also work at corner along with

Kenny Wheaton and rookie Billups. Billups played for Smith last week after the punt return injury. Billups had spent seven weeks on the practice squad.

"Billups did pretty good last week," Gailey said. "It's not like he was a bust."

Gailey said he thinks he knows what kind of game plan New Orleans will execute.

"I'm sure they'll try to take advantage of what they see as a weakness in our team, that's all part of the game," Gailey said.

Dallas dropped to 23rd in pass defense in the NFL after Randall Cunningham threw four touchdown passes, three of them to Randy Moss, in the Vikings' victory on Thanksgiving Day.