IRVING, Texas — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo suffered two fractured transverse process in his back in the loss to the Washington Redskins, but there remains a chance he could play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, according to multiple sources.
The Cowboys and Romo have stressed this is not related to the disk surgery he had last December and is not a threat to end his season. Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty suffered a similar injury this season and missed just one game.
Ed Werder reported Romo would either start or be inactive against the Cardinals. He did not practice all week and is officially listed as questionable.
The transverse process is a small bone that sticks out from either side of the vertebrae. Romo has been receiving multiple hours of treatment all week at the Cowboys’ facility and at home.
Romo suffered the injury when he took a knee from Redskins linebacker Keenan Robinson on a third-quarter sack last Monday night. After taking X-rays, which were negative, and receiving a pain-killing injection, Romo returned for the Cowboys’ final two drives of the game. He had a CT scan Tuesday.
Brandon Weeden would start against the Cardinals if Romo cannot play. Weeden took all of the first-team snaps during the week with Romo unable to practice.
The Cowboys travel to London on Monday for their Nov. 9 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With a long flight and an achy back from two back surgeries in less than a year, Romo’s practice schedule likely will be monitored leading up to that game whether Romo plays Sunday or not.
If he cannot play against Arizona, then this would be the fourth time in the last seven seasons Romo has missed a game because of an injury. He missed three games in 2008 with a broken pinkie finger. He missed the final 10 games of the 2010 season with a broken collarbone and did not play in last year’s season finale because of back surgery.
Weeden performed well in Romo’s absence against Washington, completing 4-of-6 passes for 69 yards and a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten. He started 20 games in two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, posting a 5-15 record.
“I feel ready. I’m confident,” Weeden said. “The uncertainty is the only thing. What’s the word? We going to do this? That will come but I just have to prepare like I’m going to play and expect the unexpected.”
With Romo unable to take part in the offseason program, limited during training camp and not practicing on Wednesdays since Week 2, Weeden has received more work with the first-team offense than most backup quarterbacks.
Undrafted rookie Dustin Vaughan would serve as the Cowboys backup quarterback. He has been inactive the first eight games of the season.
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