Aikman Out of Sunday’s Game

Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman will not play Sunday against the New York Giants and there is speculation that his career might be over.

Aikman suffered the second concussion of the season and 10th of his career Sunday when tackled in the first quarter by Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington.

“We have to be on the cautious side with the injury he has. But we are not going beyond this game right now,” Dallas Coach Dave Campo said. “We will continue evaluating him.”

Anthony Wright, a second-year pro, will get his first NFL start against the Giants.

Campo said the decision on Aikman was made after medical evaluations and discussions with the quarterback, doctors and other team officials.

The Cowboys face a March 8 deadline to pay Aikman a $7-million bonus. Aikman, the first player drafted under the ownership of Jerry Jones, can be released before the deadline without being given any money.

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A week after the second-lowest rating in “Monday Night Football” history, the Buffalo-Indianapolis game fared only slightly better.

The Colts’ 44-20 victory drew an 11.3 rating and 18 share. ABC’s game in Week 15 last year, which featured Minnesota and Green Bay, got a 15.1/26.

Last week, the Kansas City-New England game drew a 9.9/16. Only a 1986 game between the Redskins and Giants drew a lower rating, an 8.8. They played opposite Game 7 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.

“Monday Night Football” has averaged a 12.6 rating this season, down 9% from last year’s 13.9.

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Denver linebacker Bill Romanowski pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in a prescription-drug fraud case at Castle Rock, Colo. A judge set his trial for May 1. . . . New York Giant receiver Joe Jurevicius will be out three to four weeks after suffering a sprained left knee against Pittsburgh. Coach Jim Fassel said the length of Jurevicius’ recovery could change, but as of now he won’t be available until the second week of the playoffs. . . . Dermontti Dawson, a six-time all-pro center and Pittsburgh’s most honored player since their Super Bowl years in the 1970s, will sit out a sixth consecutive game because of a a hamstring injury and may not play again this season. . . . Washington put offensive lineman Keith Sims on injured reserve after he had surgery on his left Achilles’ tendon. . . . Receiver and punt returner Nate Jacquet was released by San Diego. . . . Detroit signed free-agent safety Ryan Stewart and released tight end Alfred Pupunu. . . . Green Bay signed defensive tackle Austin Robbins and waived defensive lineman David Richie.