Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys QB Tony Romo has broken bone in back, could miss 6 to 10 weeks

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:25 p.m. ET

Dieter Kurtenbach

Tony Romo is injured.

Again.

The Cowboys announced Saturday that their starting quarterback, who played only four games last year because of clavicle injuries, has a broken vertebra in his back, stemming from the awkward slide and hit on the third play of Dallas’ preseason game Thursday.

Tony Romo walks off the field with an apparent injury after being tackled. #DALvsSEA https://t.co/IILl1huJth
— NFL (@NFL) August 26, 2016

The Cowboys are calling the injury day-to-day and saying there is no timetable for a return, but reports from NFL Network and Pro Football Talk say that Romo will likely be out for 6 to 10 weeks, which would mean he’d miss half the regular season.

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

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett hasn't ruled out Romo for the Cowboys' season opener, Sept. 11 against the Giants, but given the reported severity of the injury, it stands to reason that Dak Prescott, the rookie quarterback out of Mississippi State who has wowed in the preseason, is now the Cowboys starting quarterback.

Prescott has been superb in the Cowboys' three preseason games, completing 39 of 50 passes for 454 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions and two rushing touchdowns.