Marino Will Now Be Out 4-6 Weeks

The Miami Dolphins announced that Dan Marino’s slightly fractured right ankle--suffered in the first quarter of Monday night’s 10-6 loss at Indianapolis--will sideline the quarterback longer than previously thought.

The team initially said Marino would be sidelined three to five weeks, but that was before his 90-minute operation Tuesday night, during which surgeons inserted a small screw to stabilize the injury and removed a spur from the front of the ankle.

Now the team says Marino will be sidelined four to six weeks, which means he will probably miss the Oct. 27 showdown between Coach Jimmy Johnson and his former team, the Dallas Cowboys.

Craig Erickson and Bernie Kosar divided practice time Wednesday and Johnson said he’ll wait a week before deciding who starts against Seattle on Oct. 6. The Dolphins have a bye this week. Kosar replaced Marino on Monday and was ineffective against the Colts.