Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has seemingly dealt with serious injuries every year over the past few NFL seasons. Really, at age 35 that's not surprising, even for a signal-caller. But the truth is that prior to the 2015 season, when Romo missed all but four games due to a broken clavicle, he's proven an incredibly durable player. Only five times in 11 season as the full-time Cowboys starter has Romo failed to play a full 16-game slate.
Twice he missed just one game, once he missed three contests and two times now has Romo been absent for a significant portion of the season. And while Romo's advancing age and the fact that he missed most of last season would seem to point to an immediate future for the Cowboys wherein Romo isn't long for the starting gig, Dallas head coach Jason Garrett feels very differently.
In fact, Garrett told reporters at the NFL's owner's meetings this week that the surgery Romo underwent this offseason will reduce the risk of future injury for the Cowboys QB.
Of course, Garrett likely just means that Romo will be less susceptible to injury when it comes to his collarbone area, but it's still a potential piece of good news for Cowboys fans.
At this point, Romo is about two weeks removed from the procedure and, though he apparently feels "excellent," has another month and half before he'll be recovered.
Considering OTAs start in mid-May, the Cowboys should be in good shape where the quarterback position is concerned in 2016.
But talk of Romo's injury and potential longevity begs the question - will the 2016 NFL Draft be the time that Jerry Jones and Co. finally pull the trigger on a franchise quarterback of the future? With the team set to select at No. 4 in the first round, there may well be plenty of options available to them - options like Carson Wentz, Jared Goff or Paxton Lynch.
But the Cowboys are a win-now team and passing up on a potentially elite talent at a position of immediate need will be a difficult proposition for Jones and Co.
One thing's for certain - Romo can't play forever. But he may well have a few more seasons left in him.
