IRVING, Texas - Pain will not keep injured Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo from playing Sunday against the Cardinals.
"If it turns out to be just a pain tolerance [issue], I will play," Romo said Wednesday, two days after suffering a back contusion in a loss to Washington. That part of it's never been an issue. But, you know, you've got to wait and see."
Romo walked gingerly around the Cowboys' practice facility Wednesday. Romo was able to return to the field Monday night after receiving an injection for the pain, but since then the injury has apparently affected his ability to play.
Ultimately, whether Romo plays will likely come down to a matter of how quickly his body heals.
"It will be about your ability to actually be productive in some fashion. That part of it is just, uh, we'll continue to evaluate," Romo said.
"At a certain point there needs to be shift in the way you feel that shows you that you're able to do the fundamental things that need to get done. And then from there you've got to get the doctor's clearance, and you take those steps and go."
Romo said the injury is not related to the disk surgery he had in the offseason, but he did not want to go into detail about the injury.
"I don't want to get into specifics about what it is," Romo said. "They've already looked at it, and it will be something that we look at each day."
Romo said his back feels similar to the way it did the night of the injury and will probably feel that way for a few days.
However, he has no issue with the decision to allow him to return to the game after being X-rayed and evaluated by the medical staff.
"Off the knowledge and everything that we had at the time it was exactly the right decision to go back and play," Romo said. "I was very adamant about it. Our doctors are great. They have my best interests at heart. We just evaluated the whole situation and everyone was in agreeance."
After Sunday's game, the Cowboys travel to London to play Jacksonville followed by a bye week.
Even if Romo were to play Sunday, missing the London game would allow him two weeks of rest and avoid two cross-Atlantic flights. Romo has taken Wednesdays off this season to rest his back, so there is precedent for the Cowboys taking special measures for his long-term health.
"I just don't think we're to that," Romo said when asked about possibly taking games off. "I mean, it's mostly just about, can we go tomorrow in practice? Can we get ready for these days right now, and then we'll adjust each day and talk about it more in depth."
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
MORE FROM FOX SPORTS SOUTHWEST
- Jerry Jones: Owner... General Manager... Cheerleader?
- Weeden says he's the most prepared backup QB in the NFL
- Romo day-to-day, gametime decision against Cardinals
