SAN ANTONIO -- The Dallas Cowboys may be deep at receiver, but they're suddenly very inexperienced.

Other than eighth-year starter Joey Galloway, the Cowboys have three second-year players -- who have a combined 10 career catches and one touchdown -- and three rookies left.

	“	This forces the younger guys to come on quicker. They were going to get playing time anyway. ”
		— Dave Campo On Raghib Ismail's injury

Coach Dave Campo has often talked about how good the young receivers are, and said the Cowboys were in the best shape they had been at that position in a long time. With starter Raghib Ismail out with a season-ending injury, Campo is about to find out if he's right.

"Losing Rocket was a blow to us, but all of our young guys were making progress,'' Campo said. "This forces the younger guys to come on quicker. They were going to get playing time anyway.''

The 32-year-old Ismail had surgery Wednesday in which a herniated disk was removed and the two vertebrae surrounding it were fused. Doctors have said he should be able to resume his football career after this season.

Confident rookie Antonio Bryant, whom the Cowboys have quietly compared to Michael Irvin, is the most likely to replace Ismail in the starting lineup opposite Galloway this season.

"I haven't come out here once practicing to be a third receiver,'' Bryant said. "I've been practicing to be the best and try to improve and get better. Things like this happen, and any one of us could have stepped up without losing much rhythm in our offense. We can be successful.''

While Campo has refused to confirm Bryant as the starter, the rookie has worked with the first-team offense since Ismail was hurt and started last weekend's preseason game at Carolina.

Campo also likes second-year players Ken-Yon Rambo and Reggie Swinton, the team's primary kick returner, because like Bryant they have made tough catches in camp.

"One of the things we've missed since the loss of Michael Irvin is a guy that can go get the football and attack the football,'' Campo said. "That's one of the things those guys do. They attack.''

Rambo and Swinton, who may not play Saturday because of a strained right hamstring, are also the only receivers other than Galloway with an NFL reception, even though most of their contributions last year were on special teams.

Swinton averaged 23.7 yards per kickoff return and 13.4 yards per punt return last year, both among the best in the NFC, and also had seven catches for 117 yards, including a 45-yard TD. Rambo had three catches for 28 yards.

Now they have a chance to be more productive in new offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet's West Coast-style offense.

"It gives us an opportunity to get out there and make plays,'' Rambo said. "When you get that opportunity, you've got to make it happen, get in the end zone, make plays and make people miss.''

What the coaches are trying to stress to the young receivers is to be themselves. None of them are expected to single-handedly replace Ismail, the speedy 10-year veteran who has 363 career catches for 5,295 yards and 28 TDs.

"They are getting a lot of reps, and I expect these guys to step up and play their roles and just be themselves,'' said receivers coach Wes Chandler. "I don't want them to anything other than what the play is designed to do, and they'll be fine because this is a talented group.''

The Cowboys had considered keeping six receivers, but will probably only have five with second-year speedster Randal Williams likely assured a spot now. Rookies DeVeren Johnson, who has a strained thigh, and Jeremaine Copeland have outside shots of making the team with two preseason games left.

Notes
The Cowboys signed free agent deep snapper Mitch Palmer on Thursday, and expect him to play Saturday. Palmer, who is from Colorado State, has four years of NFL experience with Tampa Bay and Minnesota. He was cut by the Houston Texans during the summer. ... Seven-time Pro Bowl guard Larry Allen will play a series or two in Saturday's game. It will be his first game action since offseason shoulder surgery. ... Rookie center Andre Gurode, who strained his left groin last week at Carolina, will not play this weekend. ... Coach Dave Campo said he's not any closer to deciding between kickers Tim Seder and rookie Billy Cundiff. If all stays equal, the advantage apparently goes to Seder. ``I have a history with Tim, so that is one Billy has to win decisively in my mind,'' Campo said. Both at 3-for-3 in field goals while splitting time the first two preseason games. Campo indicated that one of the kickers may be given Saturday's game. He wouldn't say which one.