Tony Romo injury update: Cowboys QB placed on IR

It’s the first time Romo has spoken about the injury that prematurely ended his season -- a back surgery just days before the season finale.

Romo’s comments were to ESPN, following the Duke-North Carolina basketball game. NFL.com’s Kevin Patra reports Romo and head coach Jason Garrett were in Durham to work with Duke head football coach David Cutcliffe, who worked with both Manning brothers in college.

The Cowboys have yet to rule Romo out, but it appears he is unlikely to play on Sunday against the Eagles. However, Jones was not shy about offering his rationale behind starting Orton in Week 17:

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Fantasy impact: Despite Garrett’s evasiveness, it’s pretty clear that Romo won’t play. That means the Cowboy’s playoff hopes rest on the shoulders of Orton, who hasn’t started a game since 2011. One of the highest-paid backup quarterbacks in the league, it’s time for Orton to earn that paycheck with a divisional title on the line. The Eagles’ defense is hardly a world-beater, so Orton has some QB2 appeal for Week 17 fantasy players.

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Update: Jason Garrett met with the media on Monday and said the team has not made a determination on Romo’s status for Week 17.

“He’s going to get treatment, we’ll see what his status is for Wednesday and this coming week,” Garrett said, via Ian Rapoport.

“That triggered it a little bit,” Romo said. “Whatever the kid did on that one play, it really sent something that didn’t feel comfortable.

The injury is apparently not connected to a play in the second half in which Romo stumbled while avoiding a defender and could be seen limping badly for several plays after. He never left the game, although the limp was so severe at one point he had to hop on one foot to complete a handoff.

Watching the play on which Romo was injured, it would appear that Garrett is likely closer to the truth. Romo appeared to kick himself in the heel as he stumbled during a play in the second half. He stayed in the game, but exhibited a severe limp for the next couple of plays, hopping on one foot at one point while making a handoff. He walked it off quickly, though, and helped rally the Cowboys for a late touchdown to win the game.

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