Romo injured his back August 25 against the Seahawks, and the compression fracture of his L1 vertebra will keep him out 6-10 weeks. It was the first time he had played in a game since breaking his collarbone during the 2015 season. Romo will stay on the team’s active roster, getting deactivated before each week’s game until he is healthy enough to play.
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The Cowboys have a big decision to make on Romo. He’ll fill in for Romo until he’s able to return, whenever that is.
Showers initially made the team when the Cowboys made final cuts before the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline.
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Now, Romo can theoretically return within the first eight weeks, depending on how his back heals. But the Cowboys believe Romo has a chance to play a week before the November 6 game against the Browns, which would mark his return from short-term IR, and thus likely carry Romo on the active roster while he rehabs. Romo was given a 6-10 week timetable after sustaining the injury on August 25. Keeping Romo on the active roster allows the team to maintain flexibility and use the short-term designation on another player if another serious, but not season-ending injury occurs. “We will be very liberal in evaluating when it is when he can come back”. That move would have meant the QB would be out until week 9 of the season. Some reports have suggested that Romo could return at some point in September, but the fact that the team seems to have seriously considered sending Romo to the I.R. should temper those expectations. Dak Prescott will take care of starting duties in the meantime.
