Just because Tony Romo went down with an injury doesn't mean the season's over in Dallas. As a matter of fact, if you listen to Jerry Jones talk, you might become convinced that the Cowboys can go undefeated over the next two months with backup quarterback Brandon Weeden running the show.
During an interview with KRLD-FM on Tuesday, Jones praised Weeden, calling him a gifted passer and saying that his throws are a "thing of beauty." Two things that aren't usually associated with Weeden.
"This quarterback Weeden can drive the ball down field," Jones said. "He's a thing of beauty on throwing a football. His passing motion and his arm, frankly, you won't see a more gifted passer, power, accuracy, the entire aspect of it. If he can basically prepare, be the starting quarterback, come in and execute and keep his head right, then I feel good about Weeden."
Just as a refresher, the 22nd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft has started just six games over the past two years and he's 0-6 in those games.
Despite that, the Cowboys are comfortable moving forward with Weeden. If the team ends up signing a quarterback this week, that quarterback will not be starting in place of Weeden.
"That's not our expectation at all," Jones said of a newly-signed quarterback possibly starting. "Certainly we think Weeden has really progressed. As [quarterback coach] Wade Wilson said, he's just not the same guy that we had last year. He's progressed that much. He said that before we had this issue with Tony. I think we all feel good about what we got."
The reason the Cowboys want to bring in an extra quarterback is because Weeden was injured during training camp.
"One of the concerns we have is the fact that [Weeden] had the concussion during training camp and that limited him for a period of time," Jones said. "So that, plus Tony's injury, is a reminder that you've got to have somebody behind him now."
With Romo out for eight weeks thanks to a broken collarbone, that means Weeden will be the team's starter well into November. If the Cowboys decide not to sign any other quarterback, the team also has the option to promote Kellen Moore from the practice squad to serve as Weeden's backup.
