Cowboys won’t place Tony Romo on IR in hope of making playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys plan to avoid placing quarterback Tony Romo on injured reserve to ensure he would be available if the team makes the playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys plan to avoid placing quarterback Tony Romo on injured reserve to ensure he would be available if the team makes the playoffs, reports Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed Friday that Romo would miss the rest of the regular season after reinjuring his collarbone. Romo missed seven games at the beginning of the season after breaking his collarbone in Week 2. He sustained a hairline fracture over the location of the original break in last Thursday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Cowboys are in last place in the NFC East with a 3–8 record, so their odds of making the playoffs are low. But the NFC East is currently led by the Washington Redskins, who are 5–6. 

• Cardinals RB Chris Johnson placed on IR with designation to return

Quarterback Brandon Weeden will lead the Cowboys’ effort to make the playoffs, though the team’s only wins of the season have come with Romo under center.

Dallas plays the Redskins twice in the final five weeks of the season. The NFC East rivals will play the first of those matchups on Monday at FedEx Field.

- Erin Flynn