PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Cowboys-Packers, Lions-Bills Today

No Troy Aikman. Probably no Reggie White. Which team can adjust?

The team that operates the best without its star player is the most likely to win the Thanksgiving Day game between the Dallas Cowboys (9-2) and the Green Bay Packers (6-5) at Irving, Tex.

Aikman, the Dallas quarterback, will sit this one out because of a sprained left knee ligament. White, the Green Bay defensive end who has played in 148 consecutive games, has a sprained elbow.

On Wednesday, however, Packer Coach Mike Holmgren held out hope that White will play, changing his status from “out” to “doubtful.”

Dallas will also be without backup quarterback Rodney Peete (sprained right thumb). Third-stringer Jason Garrett, who started one game for the Cowboys last year, will start and Tommy Hodson will be the backup.

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There will be a playoff atmosphere in Pontiac, Mich. in the first game of the day, because neither team can afford to lose.

The Buffalo Bills (6-5), up and down all season, are one game behind Miami in the AFC East. The Detroit Lions (5-6), two games behind Minnesota in the NFC Central, face almost certain elimination from the playoff picture with another loss.

“Our playoffs started last week,” Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly said. “We’ve talked about it a lot. That’s what we’ve decided.”

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Free safety Kevin Ross walked out on the Atlanta Falcons, apparently disturbed by the release of cornerback Vinnie Clark on Tuesday. Coach June Jones said he wasn’t sure why Ross left the team after a morning meeting. . . . Vinny Testaverde got his job back, one day after Cleveland Brown owner Art Modell was quoted as saying he wouldn’t put up with another quarterback controversy. Mark Rypien started the last three games after Testaverde sustained two concussions last month. “Now he’s 100%, ready to go, and he’ll start against Houston,” Coach Bill Belichick said. “Vinny never lost his job because of performance. Vinny was hurt. Vinny’s the starting quarterback.” . . . Houston Oiler quarterback Cody Carlson will have surgery on his injured left knee and will be sidelined for the rest of the season. . .Redskin rookie quarterback Heath Shuler will start Sunday against the New York Giants for the first time since spraining his ankle on Oct. 16. Gus Frerotte had started since.