PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : Shanahan’s Broncos Beat 49ers, 9-7

Hugh Millen directed two long scoring drives and Jason Elam kicked three field goals, helping former San Francisco offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan beat his old team as Denver prevailed, 9-7, before an announced crowd of 71,182 at Denver on Saturday night.

Shanahan, in his debut as the Broncos’ coach, saw his team generate 355 total yards compared to the 49ers’ 175 in the exhibition opener for both teams.

Elvis Grbac accounted for the game’s lone touchdown, throwing a 24-yard pass to Chris Thomas late in the first quarter for the 49ers.

Starting quarterbacks John Elway of the Broncos and Steve Young of the 49ers played for a limited time.

The teams will play again Saturday in the American Bowl in Tokyo.

*

Emmitt Smith caught a touchdown pass and his rookie backup, Sherman Williams, scored twice as the Dallas Cowboys opened their exhibition season with a 21-15 victory over the Buffalo Bills before an announced crowd of 62,752 in Irving, Tex.

The Dallas first-team offense played only the first series.

Quarterback Jim Kelly and running back Thurman Thomas didn’t play for the Bills.

*

The New York Jets said that defensive tackle Tony Casillas is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks after back surgery to repair a herniated disk.

Casillas left training camp in Hempstead, N.Y., on Saturday and flew to Dallas, where Dr. Bennie Scott is scheduled to perform surgery Wednesday. Scott is a back specialist for the Cowboys.

*

Center Cory Raymer’s holdout may have lasted longer than his season. The Washington Redskins’ second-round draft choice, who signed a $2.087-million contract earlier this week to end a five-day holdout, broke his left ankle in a scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Frostburg, Md.

Redskin trainer Bubba Tyer said Raymer will undergo surgery today at Arlington Hospital. Raymer, set to make $250,000 this year in addition to his $712,000 signing bonus, is certain to miss most--if not all--of the season, although Tyer declined to speculate further until after the operation.

“We didn’t X-ray it,” Tyer said. “You could feel it.”

The injury leaves the Redskins thin at center. Raymer was slated to play behind--and be the eventual successor to--John Gesek, a nine-year veteran who didn’t start until the fifth week last year because of a bulging disk. Vernice Smith is next on the depth chart, although he’s a natural guard.

*

Cornerback Deon Figures could return to Pittsburgh’s lineup in time for the season opener against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 3, which is much earlier than expected. Figures was shot in the left knee in May and had surgery to repair his patella tendon.