Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys won't put Tony Romo on IR because of playoff hopes

Published Dec. 1, 2015 9:02 p.m. ET

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You can call the Dallas Cowboys' front office many things, but one thing you cannot call them is pessimistic.

The Cowboys are not putting quarterback Tony Romo on season-ending injured reserve yet because they are holding out hope that he could return for the playoffs, ESPN’s Todd Archer reported Tuesday.

Romo re-broke his collarbone in a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Carolina Panthers last week. He is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks as a result.

Ordinarily we’d be inclined to call the Cowboys crazy for believing they still have a shot at the playoffs given their 3-8 record. However, the rest of their division isn’t very good. They’re only two games behind the Giants and Redskins, who are in a tie for first place at 5-6. If the Cowboys beat Washington this weekend and the Giants lose, they would only be one game out of first with four to play.

The Cowboys will be rolling with Matt Cassel at quarterback moving forward.

Why put Romo on injured reserve and end his season before knowing whether or not they are officially out of the playoffs? It sure is a long shot, but it’s worth waiting on considering how much of a difference Romo makes at quarterback. But one thing we cannot agree with the Cowboys about was why they brought Romo back so soon.

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