Dallas' Aikman, Peete Ailing

	IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Troy Aikman and backup quarterback Rodney
Peete will miss Thursday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, coach
Barry Switzer said.
	Aikman suffered a knee injury in the second quarter of Sunday's
31-7 victory over the Washington Redskins. Peete injured his
throwing thumb when he struck the helmet of a Redskins pass rusher.
	``Peete and Aikman are both out,'' Switzer said Monday.
``(Third-stringer) Jason Garrett will be the starter.''
	Dallas, which has only $40,000 left under the salary cap, added
another quarterback by agreeing to terms with Mike Pagel, who has
played with Cleveland and Los Angeles Rams.
	In addition to Thursday's game, it is possible that both Aikman
and Peete will miss additional games, team officials said
	``We've been through all this before,'' running back Emmitt
Smith said. ``But as long as we execute well, it doesn't matter who
our quarterback is. Obviously, we'll miss Troy. We'll just have to
play our best game.''
	Aikman, playing with a sore passing thumb and a broken nose,
went down with a medial collateral ligament sprain of the left
knee.
	Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert
Vandermeer told him it could take three to four weeks for Aikman to
recover.
	The last time Aikman had a sprained knee was in 1991, and he
missed five games. Aikman said Sunday this injury is worse, adding
he could return sooner than he did in 1991.
	``It's hard for me to say just how much time I'll miss, but it
certainly looks like it will be tough for me to play Thursday,''
Aikman said. ``I'm targeting Philadelphia (Dec. 4) for a possible
return, but we're going to have to wait and see how things
progress.''
	Monday, on his 28th birthday, Aikman reported that his knee was
``stiff and sore.''
	``I plan to keep it on ice and give it some whirlpool time,'' he
said. ``I'll let my body dictate when I return.''
	Peete sprained the thumb on his passing hand and was replaced by
Garrett. Peete was to see a hand specialist Monday.
	Peete threw a touchdown pass and Smith ran for two TDs as
Dallas, smarting from a 21-14 loss to San Francisco last week,
notched its 13th consecutive NFC East victory. Smith rushed for 85
yards and went over 1,000 for the fourth consecutive season. He has
1,074.
	Wide receiver Michael Irvin said the Cowboys have been bedeviled
by injuries since the season started, including one sustained in a
car accident by starting offensive tackle Erik Williams that will
keep him out for the season.
	``It's been a strange year,'' Irvin said. ``It's been one thing
after another for us. This has been the toughest season with all
the distractions and hurdles. Any time you lose a guy like Troy,
it's going to be a struggle.''
	Aikman was hurt in the second quarter when he was tackled around
the knees by linebacker Ken Harvey. Aikman limped to the sidelines,
then accompanied team doctors to the locker room. Wearing a knee
brace, Aikman was taken to a hospital for an MRI. He hit 8-of-13
passes for 87 yards before getting hurt.
	After the injury, Peete threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Alvin
Harper, giving Dallas a 24-7 halftime lead. Kevin Williams then
dashed 83 yards on a punt return for a touchdown as Washington's
record dipped to 2-9.
	Peete jammed his thumb in the third period when hit by defensive
end Dexter Nottage. Peete could barely grip the ball after the
injury, but X-rays of the thumb were negative.
	``I'll know more about my injury tomorrow,'' Peete said Sunday.
``I'm worried about the ligament.''
	The Cowboys (9-2) also lost guard Derek Kennard with a toe
injury and linebacker Godfrey Myles with a knee injury during the
game.
	``It's ugly for the Cowboys now,'' said guard Nate Newton, who
also was hurt. ``It's an epidemic.''
	John Friesz, who began the season as Washington's No. 1
quarterback, replaced Gus Frerotte and hit Desmond Howard with a
19-yard touchdown pass for the Redskins' only score.
	Heath Shuler also played for the Redskins, meaning six
quarterbacks appeared in the game.
	``Who will our quarterback be next week?'' Washington coach Norv
Turner said. ``That's a good question. We'll make a decision next
week. We didn't play well today. We were out of it early. Gus
didn't have a good day.''
	Frerotte said he didn't understand why he got the hook.
	``I was taken out early, and I'm not sure what the reason was,''
he said. ``I don't have any say about who's going to be
quarterbacking next week.''
	It was the first time Dallas swept Washington in their annual
two-game series in 10 years. The Cowboys beat the Redskins 34-7
earlier this season.