Sanders Is Out a Month at Least

Deion Sanders will not return to the Dallas Cowboys until September, and even that may be a bit optimistic, team owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday.

“I know we won’t see him in a preseason game,” Jones said in Wichita Falls, Texas, confirming for the first time what had long been suspected.

Sanders is in training camp but not practicing with the team as he rehabilitates his left big toe. He underwent surgery to fix an extreme case of turf toe in April.

Jones noted that if Sanders sits all of September, he would miss only two games because Dallas has an early bye-week. The Cowboys’ third game is Oct. 3 against division rival Arizona.

“If Deion misses only two ballgames, then we’ve hit a home run,” Jones said.

Sanders’ injury kept him out of five games last year and limited him in two others.

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Running back Tyrone Wheatley was released by the Miami Dolphins after a tentative performance in their first scrimmage Sunday, when he gained 18 yards in seven carries.

“Unfortunately for Tyrone, we brought in a couple of rookies who are pretty talented,” Coach Jimmy Johnson said.

Wheatley, 27, was the New York Giants’ No. 1 draft pick in 1995. Miami acquired Wheatley from New York in February for a seventh-round draft pick.

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A personal plea from Atlanta Falcon Coach Dan Reeves wasn’t enough to end running back Jamal Anderson’s holdout.

Reeves reached the Pro Bowl running back Saturday at his home in Salt Lake City. Anderson, set to make $2.6 million in the final year of his deal, is seeking a five-year contract with an $8-million signing bonus. The Falcons have offered a $7-million bonus and at least $1 million less in guaranteed money over the life of the contract.

“I told him why we felt the way we did as far as our offer was concerned and tried to understand where he’s coming from,” Reeves said. “It was just a conversation to touch base and see if something could be done to get him here.”

Apparently not. Anderson is now facing at least $30,000 in fines--the maximum $5,000 a day--even if he reports today.

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The Oakland Raiders will be without free-agent fullback Zack Crockett from four to six weeks because of a broken foot.

Crockett, a versatile running back and special teams player who split last season between Indianapolis and Jacksonville, broke a bone in his right foot during a special teams practice late Monday.

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After missing all of last season because of a knee injury, cornerback Jason Sehorn’s return to the New York Giant lineup is going to be delayed about another 10 days because of a torn hamstring.

Sehorn, almost certain to miss the Aug. 13 preseason opener, suffered the injury while working out three weeks before training camp.

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Despite a broken hand, Detroit Lion cornerback Bryant Westbrook can continue training immediately, Coach Bobby Ross said.

Westbrook was injured during Monday’s practice.

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First-round draft pick Anthony McFarland agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ending a three-day holdout. The 6-foot, 300-pound defensive tackle from LSU was expected to practice today. . . . The Green Bay Packers reacquired free-agent Lamont Hollinquest, a special-teams standout and backup linebacker, in part with the $700,000 of extra salary cap room created by the Monday retirement of wide receiver Robert Brooks.

Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair left practice early because of back spasms. He was treated and is not expected to miss any workouts. . . . Defensive end Dimitrius Underwood skipped out on the Minnesota Vikings to attend to a “family matter” and will return to training camp today, his agent, Craig Domann, said after finally tracking down the AWOL rookie. Underwood inexplicably disappeared from camp Monday.