Tony Romo Injury: Why Playing Monday Night Is Dumb Move for Cowboys' QB

I'll be the first guy to admit Tony Romo showed guts by staying in Dallas' Week 1 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers after suffering a cracked rib and a punctured lung. Romo proved to any doubters that he's one tough hombre by leading the Cowboys back for a 27-24 overtime win on the road. But that doesn't mean he should keep playing through the injury.

Romo's health has to be more important than football, and there is no way he will be playing pain free if he goes Monday night against the 2-0 Washington Redskins. I know he has faced a ton of criticism over the years for his play—especially after he almost single-handedly lost the Cowboys Week 1 matchup with the New York Jets—but he doesn't have to prove his toughness to anyone.

Look, I get that Romo thinks the team is much better with him on the field, but playing hurt could lead to even more injuries. Oftentimes quarterbacks with rib or back injuries unwittingly change their throwing motion to ease the pain. That could lead to shoulder issues, especially if Dallas keeps throwing the ball as much as they have been.

Romo closed out Sunday's win over the 49ers—one the Cowboys sorely needed—by completing 12 of his final 15 passes for 201 yards. He finished the game completing 20 of 33 throws for 345 yards and two touchdowns. It was a masterful performance, but not worth risking his well-being over.

Romo is a significant upgrade over backup Jon Kitna, and with the Cowboys sporting the league's second-worst rushing attack (54.5 yards per game) he probably feels like he has to play. If his injury is as serious as reports have said, he should sit for at least a week and recover fully.

If not, more issues could be on the horizon, and that could upend the Cowboys' season.