COWBOYS TO START JASON GARRETT FOR THANKSGIVING DAY GAME

   Injuries to star quarterback Troy Aikman and backup Rodney Peete have
   forced the Dallas Cowboys to start third-stringer Jason Garrett for
   the Thanksgiving Day game against the Green Bay Packers.
   
   Aikman suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee
   in Sunday's 31-7 victory over the Washington Redskins and is out for
   Thursday's game. Aikman was injured when he was hit in the knee by
   Washington linebacker Ken Harvey while releasing a pass in the second
   quarter and was replaced by backup Rodney Peete.
   
   It is not known how long Aikman will be sidelined, although Dallas
   owner Jerry Jones said that Aikman may miss three to four weeks.
   
   Peete was also injured in Sunday's game and is listed as doubtful for
   Thursday. Peete, who threw a touchdown pass in the second quarter
   after replacing Aikman, suffered a sprained right thumb in the third
   quarter and was replaced by Garrett.
   
   The Cowboys Monday agreed to terms with journeyman quarterback Mike
   Pagel, who last played for the Los Angeles Rams in 1993. Pagel will
   serve as an emergency backup to Garrett.
   
   Pagel, who also played for the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland
   Browns, arrived in Dallas after Monday's practice and passed his
   physical.
   
   Aikman, who has already suffered a concussion and an injured right
   thumb this season, has led Dallas to consecutive Super Bowl titles the
   last two seasons. He was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl 27, a
   52-17 rout of the Buffalo Bills.
   
   Aikman completed 8-of-13 passes for 87 yards Sunday and directed three
   scoring drives before his injury. For the season, he is 182-of-286 (64
   percent) for 2,251 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
   
   Despite the barrage of injuries, the Cowboys are 9-2 and tied with the
   San Francisco 49ers for the best record in the league.