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Teams like to get their starters some serious reps in the third preseason game every year, but Thursday’s matchup between the Cowboys and Seahawks served as a reminder of how that can go terribly wrong. On the third play of the game, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo was sacked from behind by Seattle defensive end Cliff Avril. Romo immediately went down in pain, holding his back, and had to be helped off of the field by trainers. However, Romo seemed fine a few moments later and told head coach Jason Garrett that he wanted to go back in the game, a request that was quickly denied.
Well, it turns out that Romo wasn’t as fine as he thought he was or appeared to be.
On Saturday, it was reported that Romo has a broken bone in his back. Garrett did not rule Romo out for their season opener vs the New York Giants, but Jason La Canfora says that he hears differently:
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett has said he isn't ruling out Romo for Week 1 but I am hearing Romo likely to be out beyond that
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) August 27, 2016
The Cowboys went 1-11 last season without Romo and 3-1 when he started. They are now expected to start Dak Prescott in Week 1 and their following games after the Giants are the Redskins, Bears, and 49ers. According to Ian Rapoport, we might not see Romo again for at least two more months.
My understanding is that best-case scenario is that #Cowboys QB Tony Romo returns by mid-season. He broke a different bone than last time.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 27, 2016
Avril was just doing his job. I’m sure Dallas’s All-World offensive line got a talking to from coaches and owner Jerry Jones for not doing theirs, especially with the most important player on the roster playing behind them. If Romo is still on the Cowboys in 2017, I’m not sure he’ll get another taste of preseason action.