PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Harper’s Injury Not as Bad as Feared

An injury suffered by Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Alvin Harper, who landed awkwardly trying to catch a pass as the half ended in Monday night’s 38-10 victory over the New York Giants, was diagnosed as only a sprain Tuesday.

Harper was thought to have torn a left knee ligament. Owner Jerry Jones said he was worried Harper was lost for the season.

However, a magnetic resonance imaging test showed a sprain to the outside ligament of the knee. Harper was listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game in San Francisco, but it wasn’t a season-ending injury.

The Cowboys hope offensive lineman Derek Kennard, who suffered a sprained toe against the Giants, can also play.

In addition, Dallas also could get tight end Jay Novacek back for the 49ers. Novacek, bothered by a strained abdominal muscle, has only held for extra points and field goals in the last two games.

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Denver Broncos running back Leonard Russell was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct for his role in bar fight hours after the team’s loss to the Rams.

Police in Glendale, Colo., arrested Russell, 25, and Scott McClelland, 33, early Monday after Russell floored McClelland, police said. Both were cited for disorderly conduct, but it’s not clear who instigated the fight.

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Cincinnati Bengal Coach Dave Shula said Jeff Blake will remain the starting quarterback over David Klingler Sunday against Houston. It will be the third consecutive start for Blake, who led the Bengals to their first victory last Sunday in Seattle. . . . The Detroit Lions signed free agent quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta and placed quarterback Scott Mitchell (broken finger) on injured reserve. . . . ESPN’s first Sunday night NFL telecast of the year, the Raiders at Kansas City, drew an A.C. Nielsen cable rating of 11.1, the network’s highest for an NFL game in nearly four years.