Sep 13, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) throws in the pocket against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Photo Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is leaning toward having a plate inserted in his left collarbone to protect it against further fracture.
A final decision won’t come until Romo has CT scans next week to ensure the bone is fully healed, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“We’re just going to do it for preventative,” said Romo, appearing with his family at a promotional event in Grapevine, Texas, for “The Lego Movie 4D: A New Adventure at Legoland.” on Saturday. “As far as the way I feel, I feel good. We just want to make sure that obviously it doesn’t happen again, so we’ll probably just put a plate on it and go from there.”
Romo also told ESPN.com via text message he most likely will have a protective plate surgically implanted in his collarbone after undergoing a CT scan next week.
Romo broke the collarbone a second time in a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Carolina Panthers last season. The hairline fracture came in the healed portion from the original break that he suffered on Sept. 20 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Romo also dealt with the injury in 2010.
Romo could pass on having a plate inserted to reinforce the collarbone and have what is called a Mumford procedure that involves shaving down a portion of the clavicle.
The recovery time is expected to be 6-8 weeks with either surgery. Romo, who turns 36 in April, should be back on the field for the organized team activities in May.
“Putting a plate on it … really you’re just doing it to ensure next year when you take a hit,” Romo told the Star-Telegram. “If I can do something that helps me to ensure that the bone doesn’t break next time, I think that’s good for everybody. It’s a small procedure; it’s not very big.”
Speaking this week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Cowboys executive vice Stephen Jones said either option would be “a preventative type surgery, and I think he’s wanting to make sure if he does do it it’s the right way to do it.”
The Cowboys went 4-12 this past season, including 1-11 with three backup quarterbacks, as Romo missed 12 games. Romo has not played all 16 games in a season since 2012.
