PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : NFC : Emmitt Says He’s OK, Will Play Sunday

Emmitt Smith, pointing to the swelling still evident on his elbow, said, “It’s doing fine, believe me. I’ll be at practice Wednesday and I’ll play against the Washington Redskins.”

Smith fell hard on the elbow and lost feeling in his fingers during the fourth quarter of the Dallas Cowboys’ 34-20 victory over Arizona Sunday.

“It scared me, particularly when I couldn’t feel three of my fingers,” Smith said. “There was some pain.”

He had ice and pressure treatments Sunday night. “It’s gone down a lot,” he said. “I was worried there might be some bone fragments floating around in there. But there’s no problem. It will be back to normal by Sunday.”

*

Deion Sanders underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle in Coral Gables, Fla., and Cowboy spokesman Rich Dalrymple said, “We are very, very encouraged by the results of the surgery.”

Dr. John Uribe of the Health South Doctor’s Hospital performed the one-hour procedure on Sanders, who wrapped up his baseball season with the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.

Dalrymple said Sanders will spend several days in Florida before flying to Dallas to begin his rehabilitation program.

“We have no idea on a timetable for him to be on the field,” Dalrymple said. “Doctors removed two loose bodies [fragments] from the ankle. “

Sanders hoped to be ready to play Oct. 29 when the Cowboys play Atlanta. San Francisco is at Texas Stadium on Nov. 12.

*

Former Washington Redskin linebacker Monte Coleman will announce his retirement today, the team said. Coleman, 37, holds the team record with 216 games played and his 16 seasons of service tie him with quarterback Sammy Baugh in Redskin history. He remained an unsigned free agent this season.

Coleman, who played on all three of Washington’s Super Bowl winners, was selected by the Redskins in the 11th round of the 1979 draft and was the first player ever picked by an NFL team from the University of Central Arkansas. In his career, Coleman had 653 solo tackles and 356 assists, 55 sacks, 17 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries.

*

Coach Rich Brooks said of quarterback Chris Miller, who suffered a concussion in the St. Louis Rams’ 34-28 victory over Chicago Sunday: “He’s OK, no headache. Miller’s fine today. I don’t think he’ll miss a beat this week.”

Said Miller, who is also nursing a bruised right shoulder: “I’d say I’m a used car today. A couple of miles on me, still in semi-good condition.”

Since 1992, Miller, 30, was been healthy enough to play only about half the time. He has blown out both knees, and he’s had four concussions in the past two seasons.

*

Carolina Coach Dom Capers said he will not decide on his starting quarterback until game time Sunday, when the Panthers play Tampa Bay. However, rookie Kerry Collins has been getting more work with the first team in practice than Jack Trudeau or Frank Reich. . . . Philadelphia Coach Ray Rhodes also must decide on a starting quarterback between Randall Cunningham and Rodney Peete, but indications are Peete will start at New Orleans Sunday. . . . Jamir Miller, who left UCLA after his junior season to enter the 1994 draft and was a No. 10 pick by the Arizona Cardinals, returned to the team after completing a four-game suspension for substance abuse.