PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : NFC : Stokes Breaks Bone in Hand, Out 5-6 Weeks

J.J. Stokes, San Francisco’s top draft choice and an All-American wide receiver at UCLA, broke a bone in his right hand in a noncontact drill at the 49ers’ training camp in Rocklin, Calif., Thursday and faces a lengthy recovery.

Stokes’ hand will be in a cast at least four weeks, and he could resume playing in five or six weeks. That would put him out until the fourth or fifth game of the season.

He is the second 49er to be injured in two days, joining fullback William Floyd, who sprained right knee ligaments Wednesday and will sit out about three weeks.

“[Stokes] did that going out for a pass and he kind of lost his balance when he put his hand behind him and hit the ground,” said San Francisco Coach George Seifert, who has had to deal with a rash of injuries during training camp, beginning with defensive end Troy Wilson’s dislocated right shoulder on the first day.

Four of five regulars in the offensive line have been sidelined, and guard Jesse Sapolu lashed out at the NFL, saying the league was partly at fault for pressuring San Francisco into playing its sixth overseas exhibition in eight years. The 49ers played Denver in Tokyo two weeks ago.

Center Bart Oates (elbow) and guard Derrick Deese (ankle) return to duty for Saturday night’s exhibition against Carolina, but tackles Harris Barton (calf bruise) and Steve Wallace (knee) remain sidelined.

Amid all the 49er subtractions, there was an addition when free agent defensive back Toi Cook agreed to contract terms. He will join the team Sunday.

Under terms of the one-year deal, Cook will be paid the veteran minimum of $178,000 with a chance for substantial bonuses based on playing time and performance, club executive John McVay said.

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After being warned about contaminated water in Flagstaff, Ariz., Coach Buddy Ryan made a decision to break camp a day early.

The Cardinals were scheduled for an afternoon walk-through, one more night in the Northern Arizona University dormitories, and a practice today.

Flagstaff residents began complaining early Thursday about discolored household water. An initial investigation could not determine the cause, and he said flushing out hydrants failed to clear the lines.

The university, where the Cardinals train each year, is on the same water system.

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Warren Moon, nursing a sore arm and dealing with skeptical fans as a 38-year-old Minnesota quarterback with an offseason that included allegations of sexual harassment and spousal abuse, will stay in the lineup into the second quarter for the first time this exhibition season when the Vikings play host to the Oakland Raiders tonight.

Moon and the Vikings insist the off-field problems will not be a distraction, and he has downplayed his arm trouble. But he has gotten little chance to allay the concerns during the Vikings’ first two exhibition games, completing seven of 14 passes for 74 yards with Minnesota’s lethargic first-team offense.