The Dallas Cowboys have refused to rule quarterback Tony Romo out for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles with the NFC East title up for grabs, and head coach Jason Garrett said the quarterback felt better but "not overly comfortable" as the team started to prepare for its huge game this Sunday.
According to ESPN, Romo, who is sidelined with a back injury, didn't practice or go through pre-practice meetings with the Cowboys on Wednesday but he is still hoping he can make a recovery in time to take the reins under center with the NFC East hanging in the balance.
Romo likely needs surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back but ESPN reports that the team still hasn't ruled him out and he received an epidural to try and treat it.
"I saw him briefly today, and he's fighting through it," Garrett said per ESPN. "He's certainly in a situation where he's trying to do everything he can to get himself back with the rehab process and treatment process, like any injured player would. He's a tough guy, as we saw the other day. We'll just see how he does."
Kyle Orton will start for the Cowboys Sunday if Romo can't do it, and Garrett said they wouldn't force Romo out there if he's still ailing because they wouldn't want to "compromise him for now or for the future," ESPN reports.
"We'll make our best medical decision, and we'll make our best football decision," Garrett told ESPN.
Jon Kitna joined the team on the practice squad after signing with them on Wednesday, though he hasn't played since 2011.
On Tuesday the Cowboys worked out five different quarterbacks, a list that includes David Carr, John Skelton, Caleb Hanie, Tyler Thigpen and Richard Bartel.
"When you looked at the landscape of guys who could help on short notice, Kitna was a guy who kind of rose to the top of that," Garrett said via ESPN. "We have a great history with him. He's been a heckuva football player in this league for a long time. He started a lot of games for us, knows this offense, knows this environment. We felt like on short notice he gives us the best chance if he did in fact have to play in this ballgame."
Romo is 342-for-535 (63.9%) this season for 3,828 yards with 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
He likely won't be in the lineup when the Cowboys look to make the playoffs and win the division for the first time since 2009.
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