Tony Romo Injury: Updates on Cowboys Star's Back and Return

Updates from Sunday, Nov. 9

David Helman of DallasCowboys.com confirms Tony Romo will play in Week 10:

Updates from Friday, Nov. 7

Tony Romo's back continues to show positive signs ahead of the Dallas Cowboys' collision with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

ESPN's Todd Archer has an update on Romo's official status for Week 10:

Kevin Patra of NFL.com had an update on Romo's status after practice Friday from head coach Jason Garrett:

"

He looked pretty comfortable to me. Clearly he's coming back off of this thing and wanted to get the blood flowing through his body and get his movement back both in the pocket and also throwing the football. I feel like he had a pretty good day yesterday.

"

Romo practiced Thursday, and Garrett delivered an update Friday morning, per Sky Sports' Richard Graves:

Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News had more on Romo's practice status Friday:

Updates from Thursday, Nov. 6

Romo will give his back a workout when the Cowboys head to practice Thursday, and he is expected to play when they meet the Jaguars this weekend.

Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has an update on Romo's practice status Thursday:

Patra has this from Romo: "We'll see. I think we'll take it day by day, and see what happens when we move closer. It's improving each day, and I think if we did some things today that are positive, and if it keeps going in that direction, there's a good chance."

Joe Trahan of WFAA has more:

Garrett offered the latest update, per Sky Sports' Richard Graves:

Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News confirms Graves' report: 

"

Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo is practicing this morning in London. On field now throwing the football.

— Brandon George (@DMN_George) November 6, 2014"

Updates from Wednesday, Nov. 5

Romo's back problem continues to hinder his involvement in practice ahead of the Cowboys' London showdown with the Jaguars.

Graves provides the latest from Garrett:

Updates from Tuesday, Nov. 4

David Moore of The Dallas Morning News provides an update from Romo regarding how the flight to London impacted his back injury:

Todd Archer of ESPN passed along more comments from Romo on his health: "If I can functionally do what I need to do to help our football team, that's what will make the decision. It won't be based off how they play defense in that manner."

Updates from Sunday, Nov. 2

David Helman of DallasCowboys.com confirms Romo will not play in Week 9:

Following Sunday's game, Jerry Jones spoke about Romo's status for Week 10, via Joe Trahan of WFAA and Desmond Purnell of NFL Network:

Updates from Saturday, Nov. 1

ESPN Dallas' Todd Archer provides an update on Romo's back injury:

Former NFL head team physician David J. Chao, MD passes along information on transverce process fractures: 

ESPN's Stephania Bell speaks about how Romo's prior injuries may come into play:

ESPN's Ed Werder explains why Romo was allowed back in the game Monday night:

FanSided's Josh Sanchez provides a photo that illustrates where Romo is injured:

"

Romo has 2 fractured transverse process in back.Yikes.For those (like me) who dont know what a tranverse process is pic.twitter.com/B0jHPL7DZF

— Josh Sánchez (@jnsanchez) November 1, 2014"

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com has an update on the timeline for the Cowboys to make a decision on Romo's status:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 31

Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News has an update: "The Dallas Cowboys have officially listed starting quarterback Tony Romo as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals."

Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk has this from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones:

"

Jones said Romo is loosening up his back today and looks OK, but we'll have to wait until we see whether Romo's name is on the inactive list before kickoff to learn whether Romo or Brandon Weeden is the starter.

"He's moving around, been in the meetings today," Jones said on KRLD. "We make that decision at game time when it’s day to day. We turn that in, obviously you've got your 53-man roster and you've got to turn your actives in within an hour before the game, and that's when you'll know."

"

Dan Hanzus of NFL.com has more on Romo from head coach Jason Garrett:

"

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told reporters prior to practice on Friday the team will closely monitor the quarterback's movement in practice.

"We're going to see what he's able to do today in practice," Garrett said. "Getting his rehab, getting his treatment and really taking it day-by-day, so we'll see what he's able to accomplish."

Garrett had hoped to see Romo make some progress in Thursday's practice, but he acknowledged Friday that Romo "did not do a whole lot." The Cowboys will need to see Romo moving better before making him the starter in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals.

"Obviously, we have to see him move around at some point before the game starts, so hopefully he can do something today," he said. "We'll have a walk-through tomorrow, and we still got about 48 hours until the game, so we want to give him every chance."

"

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 30

Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports Romo is feeling better, while Nick Eatman of Cowboys.com has more from Garrett:

David Moore of The Dallas Morning News reported on what Romo will do to protect his back if he does play in Week 9:

Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported on Romo from Cowboys practice:

ESPN's Ed Werder has an update on Romo's status from Garrett:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 29

Calvin Watkins of ESPN reported on the results of Tony Romo's CT scan:

Earlier, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com updated Romo's status for this week:

Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News provides owner Jerry Jones' take on the quarterback's injury:

David Moore of The Dallas Morning News provides comments from Romo: 

"

If it turns out to be just the pain tolerance, I will play. That part has never been an issue. But you've got to wait to see.

It will be about your ability to be productive in some fashion. That part of it, we will continue to evaluate. ...

... At a certain point there needs to be a shift in the way you feel that shows you're able to do the fundamental things that need to get done. From there, you need to get the doctor's clearance.

You take those steps and go.

"

Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports on what Jones thinks Romo's status will be for Sunday:

Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram adds more from Jones:

Head coach Jason Garrett later spoke about Romo's status Wednesday, via Machota:

ESPN's Ed Werder reports on the possibility of Romo missing game action due to his back injury:

Yesterday, Werder weighed in on Garrett discussing Romo's injury:

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 28

Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports passed along comments from Jason Garrett on Tony Romo's status:

Garrett also spoke about further testing for Romo on the injury, via Joe Trahan of WFAA.com:

Matt Mosley of ESPN 103.3 reported what he was hearing about the expectation for Romo's diagnosis:

Earlier, Ed Werder of ESPN shared what he was hearing regarding Romo's injured back:

Will Carroll of Bleacher Report also weighed in on Romo's status:

Original Text

Quarterback Tony Romo is seemingly always the subject of on-field controversy, but the Dallas Cowboys were without their maligned signal-caller for some time due to injury during a 20-17 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins in Week 8.

According to the ESPN Monday Night Twitter account, Romo suffered a back injury in the third quarter:  

"

Romo appeared to take a knee to his surgically repaired back on that last sack. #MNF pic.twitter.com/OX78LkSiF0

— ESPN Monday Night (@ESPNMondayNight) October 28, 2014"

Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports added:

With 1:52 remaining in the fourth quarter, Romo returned, per NFL.com:

After the Cowboys 20-17 loss, NFL.com and ESPN's Mike Sando provided an update:

As for next week? Romo believes he'll play according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:

Romo, 34, has often been criticized for his lack of playoff success, but he has been statistically productive in the regular season since becoming Dallas' starter in 2006. He has four seasons of at least 4,000 passing yards, six seasons with 26 or more touchdowns through the air and three Pro Bowl nods to his credit.

Even though Romo is prone to making mistakes in big moments, there is no question he is the Cowboys' best option under center. Romo's health was a major question mark entering the season, so this situation doesn't necessarily come as a big surprise.

After undergoing back surgery in December, Romo faced a lengthy rehabilitation process. He was able to make it back in time for part of the preseason, but he seemed to be less than 100 percent when the regular season commenced.

Per Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson believed that Romo's back was still hindering him in August:

"

It's been OK. I think the deeper the ball goes down the field, it's a little bit more inconsistent. He's thrown all the intermediates—the fours and the seven routes and the deep outs—have been fine. It's just the nine routes and the deep posts. Those things have been a little inconsistent. I think that's all due to his back.

"

Wilson's theory gained some credibility in Week 1 when Romo struggled to the tune of three interceptions in a Dallas loss to the San Francisco 49ers. It was blatantly obvious Romo was both rusty and somewhat limited compared to what he is usually able to do.

After that performance, Babe Laufenberg of CBS 11 expressed his opinion that Romo would be negatively impacted by his back throughout 2014:

Romo missed practice following a Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans, and he admitted he would have to monitor his back on a day-to-day basis, according to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com:

"

It's going to pop up. I'm sure it'll happen throughout the rest of the season. You'll see a day here or there. It's the same as the arm. Sometimes your arm gets (tired). It's just obviously more talked about because of having surgery on the back. You play this game. It's a very violent, physical game, and you throw the ball a lot and you do all these things. Sometimes it's just that tightness stuff comes up. You prefer obviously to do everything 100 percent of the time, but you can't always do that. I'll be fine.

"

With so much uncertainty surrounding Romo's status, the Cowboys invested in a backup plan this past offseason. Dallas signed former Cleveland Browns first-round pick Brandon Weeden, who stepped in for Romo on Monday.

Weeden didn't work out as a full-time NFL starter in Cleveland, although he has a good skill set. He also has a dynamic supporting cast with the Cowboys in the form of wide receiver Dez Bryant, tight end Jason Witten and running back DeMarco Murray.

Weeden was 4-of-6 for 69 yards and a touchdown in relief on Monday. 

Being without Romo isn't ideal, but Weeden could keep Dallas' head above water provided he is able to utilize the weapons around him and limit mistakes.

Romo doesn't often get much respect, but that could change if the starter is forced to miss more time and Weeden struggles.

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