Cowboys Tony Romo out 6-10 weeks; Dak Prescott next man up!
The Dallas Cowboys upcoming regular season rests on the arm of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott now that it’s been revealed starter Tony Romo has broken a bone in his back.
The Dallas Cowboys and it’s fans gasped in horror on Thursday night as 36-year old starting quarterback Tony Romo laid on the field in agony following a tackle three plays into the team’s third preseason game. Playing against the Seattle Seahawks, Romo was forced to scramble out of the pocket and tackled from behind, landing awkwardly mid-slide.
The veteran quarterback later equated the pain to a stinger and was eventually able to sit up and walk to the sidelines under his own power. After consulting with the team’s medical staff and doing some stretching, it appeared Romo was ready to return to the game. But Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett refused that request and Tony sat on the bench for the rest of the night.
After the game, Romo claimed to feel fine. So much so, no initial x-rays were taken of his back. But on Friday morning, Tony woke up with some discomfort. So an MRI was performed. It is now being reported by several sources that those tests revealed a broken bone (compression fracture) in the aging quarterback’s L1 vertebrae. And that the injury is expected to keep Romo sidelined six to ten weeks because of it.
Tony Romo has a compression fracture of his L1 vertebrae, per @toddarcher, an injury that could sideline him 6-10 weeks.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2016
In 2014, Tony Romo played with broken bone in back. Broken bones generally 6 weeks. Cowboys say no timetable other than not season ending.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2016
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the broken bone in Romo’s back is different than any of his previous injuries.
My understanding is that best-case scenario is that #Cowboys QB Tony Romo returns by mid-season. He broke a different bone than last time.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 27, 2016
Garrett has been more vague about Romo’s return, as Tony has apparently played through this type of injury before. Although it seems the term “season-ending” is off the table.
Garrett says he's heard "a whole range" of possibilities abt when Romo could return. None of those possibilities include being out all year.
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) August 27, 2016
Though unrelated, Garrett points out Romo has played with a fracture in his back before. Part of the reason why no timetable at this time.
— Rob Phillips (@robphillips3) August 27, 2016
And it appears Romo could take up a spot on the Cowboys final 53-man roster no matter what as placing him on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP) is not a possibility according to DallasCowboys.com reporter Rob Phillips.
For fans asking about possibility of Romo starting season on PUP: not an option because didn't start camp there. No timetable at this point.
— Rob Phillips (@robphillips3) August 27, 2016
But former scout and current football analyst for the team’s official site Bryan Broaddus believes Injured Reserve with a designation to return is a possibility for Romo. Better known as Short-term or Recall IR, Tony would be allowed to return after eight weeks if placed on this list.
No but IR to return. https://t.co/GxNGjy2Cg7
— BryanBroaddus (@BryanBroaddus) August 27, 2016
With Romo out for the foreseeable future, the future is now for rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. Cowboys fans would likely see this latest injury news to their veteran quarterback as potentially devastating if it weren’t for Prescott’s excellent showing this preseason. In three games, the fourth round pick has been the best overall performing rookie in the entire NFL and the buzz of the league.
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Prescott has completed 39 of his 50 passes this preseason for 454 passing yards and seven total touchdowns. The Cowboys will now enter the 2016 regular season with a rookie under center and one in the backfield, first round pick Ezekiel Elliott out of Ohio State.