PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Esiason’s Arm Is Not Broken

Additional X-rays Monday confirmed that Boomer Esiason’s passing arm is badly bruised but not broken, leaving him questionable for the Cincinnati Bengals’ game next Monday night in Pittsburgh.

Esiason was hit by a helmet in the left forearm just below the elbow in Sunday’s 38-24 loss to the Houston Oilers. He immediately came out of the game and the Bengals suspected a fracture.

“I saw him (Monday) morning in the trainer’s room,” receiver Tim McGee said. “He said it was better, but it still felt pretty sore.”

Quarterback Dan McGwire of the Seattle Seahawks will be out for the season with a broken left hip, suffered in Sunday’s game at Dallas that he started in place of injured Kelly Stouffer. Third-stringer Stan Gelbaugh will start at quarterback Sunday against the Raiders, with former Raider Rusty Hilger as his backup.

Safety Bill Bates of the Dallas Cowboys is expected to miss the rest of the season with torn ligaments in his left knee, suffered when his foot was caught in the turf at Texas Stadium on Sunday. Thomas Everett, recently acquired from Pittsburgh, will start in Bates’ spot. . . . Phil Simms underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow and the veteran New York Giant quarterback might be able to return to the team in about a month.