The Dallas Cowboys have placed quarterback Tony Romo on short-term Injured Reserve, according to Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk. With this designation, Romo will not be able to play for the next eight weeks. Since Dallas has a BYE week included in that time frame, Romo will miss at least seven games and could theoretically return to play the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 22.
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While Romo is on the shelf recovering from a broken clavicle he sustained last Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, he will be replaced by Brandon Weeden. Weeden signed with the Cowboys in the 2014 offseason after being one of the biggest busts of all-time with the Cleveland Browns. Weeden was drafted with Cleveland’s second first-round pick in 2012, with the top pick being spent on Trent Richardson. How has the city of Cleveland not burned to the ground over those picks?
Dallas will be relying heavily on the defense considering the offense is without Romo and receiver Dez Bryant, who is dealing with a broken foot and is expected to miss 2-3 months. The good news? The offensive line is the best in the business, and the combination of Terrance Williams and Jason Witten should be enough to at least make the group respectable. The Cowboys are sitting 2-0 and leading the NFC East, with the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants both two games back.
While Weeden is in the starting lineup, Dallas faces the prospects of trying to beat the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Eagles and Giants. If Romo only misses seven games and the Cowboys can simply go 3-4 in that span, they should be in fine shape headed down the stretch.