Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The signing comes four days after starter Michael Irvin suffered a severe neck injury during the Cowboys' 13-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He is out indefinitely.

It's the first acknowledgment by the Cowboys that Irvin will be out a long time. Coach Chan Gailey said Tuesday he wouldn't pursue Harper unless he believed Irvin would be out at least six to eight weeks.

With James McKnight already out for the season with a torn ACL, Ernie Mills, Raghib Ismail, Jason Tucker, James Ogden and rookie Wane McGarity are the only other receivers on the roster.

Harper was Dallas' first-round pick -- 12th overall -- in the 1991 draft. In four seasons with the club, he averaged 31 catches and scored 18 touchdowns, including eight in 1994.

He was granted unconditional free agency before the 1995 season and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That year, Harper had a career-high 46 receptions, but averaged just 13.8 yards per catch. He had only 19 receptions the following year before being released.

Harper, 29, last played with the New Orleans Saints in 1997 after being released by the Washington Redskins earlier that season.