Jerry Jones: Romo's Availabilty Comes Down To Pain Tolerance
IRVING (105.3 THE FAN) -- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says there is nothing medical that will prevent quarterback Tony Romo from playing on Sunday against Arizona.
Jones was non-committal to his availability, saying the issue now becomes one of pain tolerance.
"At this time we have nothing medically that would prevent him from playing," said Jones with Shan & RJ on 105.3 The Fan. "This is a function of pain tolerance, but it's a serious issue that you could look at people who have had a similar type contusion, or injury, and they haven't played the next week. That would cause you some concern about him playing."
The team will continue to evaluate Romo this week, but Jones made it clear that the decision to play or not lies with Tony.
"Make no mistake, its the player's decision [to return]. It's not like concussions," said Jones.
Jones did clarify that the injury -- though serious -- will not threaten to end Romo's season.
"It is not at this juncture in anyway a season-ending injury. But it is one that raises the question whether he can tolerate a certain amount of pain in that area."
Jones also reiterated that the injury is not related to the back injury that forced Romo to have surgery in December of last year.
The Cowboys owner has also received criticism for standing on the sideline during the game and communicating with head coach Jason Garrett. Some have speculated that he was pressuring his head coach to put Romo back in the game.
"I wanted to let him know that principally, he wasn't out for the year. Secondly, even better than that, he was coming back to play. Not at all whether to play him or not. That's his decision."
Jones says it's no uncommon at all for owners and GMs around the league to appear on the sideline.
"Certainly it's not uncommon at all for a GM to be involved in that exchange...That's par action right there for activity of a GM."
Romo suffered what team officials described as a back contusion on a third-quarter sack in Monday Night's 20-17 loss to the Redskins.
The 34-year-old missed two series but returned for the team's final two drives, including the game-clinching turnover on downs in overtime.
Garrett initially said Tuesday that he anticipated Romo would be ready for Sunday's game against Arizona; however, by Tuesday afternoon, Garrett was non-committal, only saying that the team was waiting for test results.
"We've just got to wait and see how he feels, obviously," Garrett said.
Backup quarterback Brandon Weeden -- who led Dallas to 10 points on two drives, including a game-tying 80-yard touchdown drive -- would likely fill in should Romo miss time. Undrafted signee Dustin Vaughan out of West Texas A&M is listed as the team's third string quarterback.
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