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Cowboys’ Lett Will Be Out 3-4 Weeks

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Associated Press

Dallas Cowboys’ defensive tackle Leon Lett has a sprained left knee that could keep him out of the season opener, but will not require surgery.

Coach Chan Gailey said Wednesday that an MRI confirmed the original diagnosis of a minor sprain, suffered Tuesday night during a scrimmage against the New Orleans Saints at Wichita Falls, Texas.

Gailey said Lett will be sidelined three to four weeks. Dallas opens the season Sept. 6 against Arizona and is counting on Lett to anchor a defensive line already struggling to pressure quarterbacks.

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“I’m glad it wasn’t as bad as it could have been,” Gailey said. “Any time you can avoid a major deal . . . you feel fortunate.”

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After a final workout with the San Diego Chargers, the San Francisco 49ers ended their month-long training camp at Stockton, Calif., and headed home for a break before a weekend trip to Canada.

The 49ers will leave today for Vancouver, where they will play the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night in an exhibition with quarterback Steve Young starting. Young will be followed by Ty Detmer, rather than Jim Druckenmiller, who has been the top reserve for the first two exhibitions.

The Chargers returned to San Diego to complete preparations for a Saturday night exhibition against the St. Louis Rams.

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The Green Bay Packers acquired tight end Aaron Laing from the St. Louis Rams for a conditional draft choice.

AFC / Moon in Camp With New Contract Seattle Seahawk quarterback Warren Moon reported to training camp, ending ending a 3 1/2-week holdout because of a contract dispute.

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After practice, Moon, 41, declined to discuss terms of his new two-year contract, which was reportedly worth $5 million, including a $2.25-million signing bonus.

Coach Dennis Erickson said Moon is the starter and will play in the next two exhibitions to get in shape for the season.

Moon’s return came one day before the Seahawks were to break training camp in Cheney, Wash.

Moon, who was in the last year of a two-year contract that would have paid him $550,000 this season, reportedly had sought $3-5 million, about the average for veteran starting quarterbacks.

He was acquired last year as a backup, but ended up starting.

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Pittsburgh Steelers’ Coach Bill Cowher said he won’t limit physical contact during practices despite the injury to kickoff returner Jahine Arnold because of a broken collarbone.

The Steelers will be without lost Arnold for at least the final three exhibitions because of his collision with strong safety Lethon Flowers in a light-contact drill Tuesday.

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Cowher said Arnold will be replaced by kick returners Curtis Marsh, George Jones and Andre Coleman when the Steelers play the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night at Veterans Stadium.

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The Buffalo Bills are prepping defensive lineman Marcellus Wiley, who played high school ball in Los Angeles and college football at Columbia, to replace Bruce Smith at defensive end and have used him in place of Smith during training camp and exhibitions while Smith recovers from off-season knee surgery.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Wiley’s career is his progression, despite having little experience as a defensive lineman. He was a running back his first two seasons at Columbia before switching to defense.

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Baltimore Raven starting safety Stevon Moore will be sidelined the next three weeks after dislocating his left shoulder in practice. The Ravens expect the 10-year veteran to be ready for the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 6.

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