Tony Romo has been throwing at Valley Ranch during voluntary workouts. The 34-year-old quarterback is also on schedule to take part in organized team activities this month.
But a second back surgery in less than a year has Cowboys fans wondering if Romo will be back to 100 percent by the time the regular season starts on Sept. 7.
During a Tuesday conference call with season ticket holders, Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones said he's confident that Romo will be fully healed by the start of the season.
"He's actually progressing great," Jones said. "He's on schedule, if not ahead of schedule. He's throwing the ball around. We think he not only will he be ready for opening week, he'll start up at training camp and be ready to go.
"He's obviously a tremendous competitor and in our mind, he kept us in it all season long with a defense that was obviously depleted with injuries, and he had us playing to win the NFC East in the last game of the year. Had he been playing in that game, I think that game may have gone a different direction. We're certainly fired up about him."
Romo had a herniated disk surgically repaired in December, causing him to miss a Week 17 loss, 24-22, to Philadelphia. A victory would've given the Cowboys their first division crown since 2009.
"We got a great quarterback in Tony Romo, who I think is ready to take the next big step," Jones said. "Get him hot and get us in the playoffs and anything can happen."
