Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said yesterday that Jones will miss Sunday's game against the Giants because of a herniated disk. Phillips said a second disk might be damaged but team doctors don't consider the injury career-threatening.

NFL.com reported that the injury is so serious it could end Jones' career, and anonymous sources told NFL.com he is "definitely done for the year."

Jones was hurt when he fell on top of his muffed punt, getting caught in a scramble for the loose ball. It was his first game back after a six-game suspension.

* Patriots: The father of QB Matt Cassel has died. Coach Bill Belichick said yesterday that Greg Cassel died Monday night and Matt has left the team. Belichick said he didn't know when Cassel would return.

Greg Cassel was a script writer in California, and the Patriots were practicing at San Jose State this week for Sunday's game at the Oakland Raiders. The team stayed on the West Coast after last Sunday's 24-21 win in Seattle.

* Panthers: Owner Jerry Richardson is in need of a heart transplant and has been placed on a donor waiting list.

The 72-year-old Richardson has been hospitalized since last week after complaining he didn't feel well. Tests revealed the need for a transplant. A team spokesman said there is no timetable for the surgery.

Richardson has a history of heart trouble and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2002. Doctors last month installed a pacemaker to control his heart's rhythm.

* Vikings: QB Gus Frerotte did not practice, raising the possibility Tarvaris Jackson will return to the starting lineup Sunday against Arizona.

Coach Brad Childress said Frerotte is continuing to rehabilitate a lower back injury, and his uncertain status could carry through the week of practice. The 37-year-old Frerotte took over for Jackson after the Vikings got off to an 0-2 start.

But Jackson performed brilliantly when rushed into duty after Frerotte went down in the first half at Detroit last Sunday. He completed 8 of 10 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown to rally Minnesota to a 20-16 win over the Lions.

* Colts: Indianapolis signed RB Najeh Davenport to shore up a suddenly injury-depleted backfield.

Coach Tony Dungy had said Monday the Colts would add a running back if there was concern starter Joseph Addai could not play Sunday against Detroit because of a right shoulder injury. No. 3 back Chad Simpson sprained his ankle in last week's 35-3 victory over the Bengals and is unlikely to play against the Lions.

That would have left Indy (9-4) with Dominic Rhodes as the only running back on the active roster.

Davenport is in his seventh NFL season. He played with Pittsburgh in 2006-07 and has had two stints with the Steelers this season. He was released Dec. 1.

* Lions: The winless Lions probably will be without starting QB Daunt Culpepper against the surging Colts. Culpepper did not practice yesterday, three days after injuring his shoulder.

"It's more doubtful than probable," coach Rod Marinelli said when asked about Culpepper's status.

Marinelli said an MRI on Culpepper's shoulder revealed a sprain.

* Saints: Starting LT Jammal Brown will sit out tonight's game in Chicago because of a sprained left ankle. Brown was hurt during the Saints' 29-25 victory over Atlanta last Sunday.

Brown was drafted 13th overall by the Saints in 2005 and won the starting job his rookie season before getting a Pro Bowl nod following the 2006 season.