PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Peete’s Thumb Ready for Action

Rodney Peete, his sprained thumb sufficiently healed, might be the Dallas Cowboys’ starting quarterback Sunday in Philadelphia.

Peete, signed as the primary backup to Troy Aikman, watched from the sidelines on Thanksgiving as third-stringer Jason Garrett led the Cowboys to a 42-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Aikman didn’t play because of a sprained knee and isn’t expected to play against the Eagles.

Also Wednesday, the Cowboys signed free agent running back Blair Thomas, who was cut by the New England Patriots. The Cowboys have not been pleased with Lincoln Coleman as a backup to Emmitt Smith.

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Kansas City backup quarterback Steve Bono took virtually all the snaps in practice and said he’s assuming he’ll be the starter Sunday against Denver. Joe Montana is trying to recover from a foot injury suffered last week in Seattle. “I think probably we’ll have a better sense of it by Friday,” Coach Marty Schottenheimer said. . . . Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre confirmed a report that he probably will have off-season hernia surgery. . . . Chad Fann will replace Derek Ware as the Arizona Cardinal starting tight end. Ware, who has started every game, is sidelined because of a broken bone in his right hand.