Could three more wins allow Dak Prescott to dethrone Tony Romo?
If Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott wins these two games, would it be enough for him to dethrone a healthy Tony Romo as the starter in Dallas?
There is no doubt Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has been impressive. In his first three NFL starts, the fourth round pick out of Mississippi State has led America’s Team to two victories and still hasn’t thrown a single interception.
But so far, everyone from the Cowboys coaching staff, front office and even Prescott himself admits that this is still veteran quarterback Tony Romo’s team. And once the 36-year old returns from a back injury he suffered in the preseason, Romo will start under center for the Cowboys, effectively forcing the talented rookie to the bench.
Yet, Romo’s timetable for return is yet unknown. And the Cowboys are riding a two-game winning streak with a 1-2 San Francisco 49ers team next up on the schedule. But in Week’s Five and Six, the rookie quarterback will face his toughest challenges yet.
In Week Five, the surprising 1-2 Cincinnati Bengals will come to AT&T Stadium to play the Cowboys. Then Dallas will have a rematch with the 2-1 Green Bay Packers in Lambeau Field the following week. If the Cowboys can pull out victories in their next three games, it that enough for Prescott to dethrone Romo as the starter?
“I think I don’t know whether Dak Prescott, rookie version, is a better option for the Cowboys a month from now than Tony Romo, rehab version,” wrote longtime NFL writer Peter King on Monday, in his weekly column on the MMQB.com. “But I do know Prescott hasn’t done enough yet to wrest the job from Romo full-time. And we won’t know next week (at Niners) either. We won’t know until Prescott meets the Bengals and Packers in Weeks 5 and 6 before the Cowboys’ bye.”
As King mentioned, the Cowboys have a bye week in Week Seven. Many are penciling that in as the perfect time for Romo to make his return. But because the timetable for the veteran’s recovery is unknown, Dallas could simply extend Romo’s rehabilitation as long as they want. Especially if the team is playing well under Prescott.
Romo is currently on the active roster, not short-term injured reserve (IR), so the Cowboys can play him whenever they feel he is ready. But there is no need to rush him back if Dallas is winning and there is a team chemistry factor you wouldn’t necessarily want to disturb. But make no mistake, if Prescott begins to falter, the Cowboys will get Romo back under center as soon as possible.
By the same token, if Romo returns and immediately starts under center, he’ll have to prove he’s a better option than the talented young rookie. If the veteran falters, Cowboy fans will likely not be very patient. Not with Prescott waiting in the wings.
More from The Landry Hat
This article originally appeared on 
