Tony Romo breaks finger
NFL
The Dallas Cowboys star quarterback could be out for four weeks. Backup Brad Johnson steps in as a starter for the first time since 2006.
IRVING, TEXAS -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has a broken finger on his throwing hand and could be out for up to four weeks.
Romo broke his right pinkie on the first play of overtime in a 30-24 loss at Arizona on Sunday, according to a posting on the team's official website. The team had no immediate comment, though players responded to the news.
The injury leaves the Cowboys (4-2) with 40-year-old Brad Johnson as the starter for Sunday's game at St. Louis. Johnson, who won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, hasn't started a game since 2006 in Minnesota.
Neither Romo nor Johnson was in the locker room Monday when it was open to reporters.
When linebacker Greg Ellis was told about Romo's broken finger, he got a somewhat stunned looked on his face and exclaimed, "Wow!" Linebacker Bradie James said the players will have to rally around each other.
"We've got to play relentless football now without our signal caller, our leader, our captain on the offensive side," James said. "That's the thing about a season; you never know what can happen. You hope you are playing some real good ball when things go down, so here we are and now we've got to make some adjustments and move on."
Receiver Terrell Owens refused to comment, getting agitated when he saw cameras recording him. "Today is not Wednesday," he said, referring to the day he routinely talks to reporters.
On Sunday, Romo missed on three straight passes to start the overtime, after passing for 321 yards and three touchdowns despite heavy pressure. He was sacked three times and knocked down 19 times.
Romo, whose hand was heavily wrapped after the game, fumbled three times Sunday, losing one, but didn't throw an interception for the first time in the last nine games.
Through Sunday's games, Romo ranks second in National Football Conference passing with a 103.5 rating. He has thrown for 14 touchdowns and has been intercepted five times. He had his team-record 14th career 300-yard passing game Sunday in his 32nd start. That broke a tie with Troy Aikman, whose 13 were accomplished in 165 starts.
In 2007, his first full season as a starter, Romo led the Cowboys to a 13-3 record, the best in the NFC. He set team records with 335 completions for 4,211 yards and 36 touchdowns, including the team-record 15 receiving by Owens, in a season that ended with a loss to the Giants in the playoffs.
