AUSTIN (AP) - With Michael Irvin suspended for the first five games of
the season, the Dallas Cowboys are in search of quality receivers.
They were likely encouraged by a scrimmage against the Houston Oilers Wednesday
night in which several receivers had strong performances.
Jason Garrett threw touchdown passes of 60 and 47 yards to Ed Hervey and
Orande Gadsden as the Cowboys defeated Houston 12-6.
The Cowboys took the field only moments after learning about Irvin's suspension,
which follows his plea of no contest to cocaine possession.
The first units for both teams played only one series and never seriously
threatened to score.
Receiver Deion Sanders caught an 11-yard pass from Troy Aikman early, but
left the scrimmage after straining his left hamstring while running a deep
route. Coaches said Sanders' injury was not serious.
Tailback Emmitt Smith and fullback Daryl Johnston were held out of the scrimmage.
Dominique Ross led Dallas rushers with eight carries for 55 yards.
Rookie running back Eddie George was the star for the Oilers, carrying 10
times for 75 yards and a four-yard touchdown. The Heisman Trophy-winner
from Ohio State dodged tacklers all night, ripping off long runs of 22 and
14 yards.
Aikman was 5-of-9 for 35 yards. His longest passes were to Kevin Williams
for 11 and 15 yards and drove Dallas to Houston's 23 before his only drive
stalled.
Dallas' Wade Wilson was 4-of-8 for 49 yards. Garrett was 4-of-6 for 137
yards and one interception.
Steve McNair replaced Chris Chandler at quarterback and played most of the
scrimmage for Houston. McNair's best plays came on a 20-yard pass to Malcolm
Floyd and a 15-yard strike to Mitch Running, which came on the Oilers' lone
touchdown drive.
McNair was 9-of-15 for 97 yards; Chandler, 3-of-6 for 19 yards.
Each team was allowed four 12-play possessions, which ended if the teams
could not convert on third down. Each team started its possessions from
its own 30-yard line and reverted to the 30 after failing to convert on
third down.
The 12,572 who paid up to $19 each to watch the scrimmage at Austin's Burger
Field, a high school stadium, had little to cheer about until Garrett and
the third-team unit took over and he connected with long scoring passes
to Hervey and Gadsden.
Dallas' rookie receiver Stepfret Williams, who has impressed coaches during
camp, had catches of 11, 15 and 14 yards.
Floyd led Houston receivers with three catches for 40 yards.
Oscar Sturgis and Alan Campos registered sacks for Dallas.
James Roberson had a sack, and Rafael Robinson had an interception for the
Oilers.
Several Cowboys suffered injuries in the scrimmage. Joining Sanders among
the injured were defensive lineman Sturgis (fractured left pinky), running
back Jarvis Perry (sprained left knee) and cornerbacks Wendell Davis (strained
left hamstring) and Barry Dillard (sprained right knee).