The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly working out Christian Ponder, Matt Flynn and Josh Johnson following the injury to Tony Romo against the Eagles. Brandon Weeden likely will start in Week 3, but ESPN reports that the team will bring in the three veterans, while the Fort Worth-Star Telegram reports that the team will work out McLeod Bethel-Thompson.
The Dallas Cowboys are dealing with some serious injury issues, as quarterback Tony Romo could end up on short-term injured reserve after fracturing his left clavicle against the Eagles. Romo could be out eight weeks, leaving Brandon Weeden as the starter for Week 3 and this comes as Dez Bryant reportedly could miss games into November with his foot injury.
The Cowboys saw Romo go down against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and reports have the quarterback fracturing his left clavicle. According to NFL.com, Romo will not need surgery for the injury and that is welcome news for the Cowboys, as that could push him to IR with designation to return. Surgery likely would have kept Romo out for a longer stretch and NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport is reporting that Romo should be out for about eight weeks.
Losing Romo for any stretch of time is tough and couple that with Bryant and that leaves the Cowboys without two of their biggest stars. The team is 2-0 to start the season and according to Clarence Hill at the
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the team has "enough pieces to win" with Weeden at the quarterback position. The team could look at free agents or try and convince Kyle Orton to come out of retirement, according to Hill, but right now that is not part of the immediate plans for the Cowboys.
Pro Football Talk reports that the Cowboys don't have "many options" at QB, as the free agent market has names like Christian Ponder, Josh Johnson, Jason Campbell and Matt Flynn. PFT writes that the team could consider a trade for either EJ Manuel or Matt Cassel with Tyrod Taylor starting, but that is unlikely at this point. Weeden comes in after going 7-for-7 for 73 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles and he previously appeared in six games for the Cowboys in 2014.
ESPN Dallas reports that the Cowboys likely will start Weeden in Week 3 and assess the quarterback situation after that. Weeden has shown he can handle things in Dallas while Romo has been injured in the past and while he is not a great option at QB, he knows the system and has been in Dallas for longer than anyone the team would sign or trade for.
The Cowboys are also dealing with an injury to Dez Bryant and so far the main storylines about his injury are about how long Bryant will be out. Early reports had Bryant out 4-6 weeks with a foot injury after surgery, but according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Bryant likely will be out for 10-12 weeks. Rapoport reported that Bryant needed a bone graft in his foot and that could keep him out for longer than initially expected.
Check here for more on the Cowboys and Romo, Bryant and Weeden. Check here for more on the veteran QBs.