IRVING, Texas – A decision on surgery for Tony Romo's healing left collarbone is drawing closer, but a minor procedure in the coming weeks would not negatively impact the veteran quarterback's offseason work.
On Saturday, Romo told reporters that a decision on surgery – most likely inserting a plate to help further strengthen the collarbone – will be made after a follow-up scan on his collarbone next week. A routine scan in early February showed good healing on its own.
Earlier in the week at the NFL Scouting Combine, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the prospect of surgery would simply be a "preventative" measure to help ensure Romo doesn't suffer another fracture to the collarbone that would sideline him multiple weeks. He missed 12 of 16 games this past season with two separate collarbone injuries and the Cowboys finished 4-12.
"At the end of the day, I think he's wanting to make sure he gets every opinion and make sure he does it right," Jones said Tuesday. "At the end of the day, this is not something that's required at all. It's just preventative. It's up to him to make sure he feels good about it and we all feel good about it. We'll make a decision at that point."
If Romo does have surgery in early March, an approximate six-week timetable would still put him in good shape for start of the offseason program in late April. Last year, the team scheduled the start of organized team activities (OTAs) for the final week of May, with a three-day minicamp also held in mid-June.
The prospect of surgery has been discussed internally for weeks. At the Senior Bowl in late January, Jones said, "I wouldn't say it's 100 percent but it's leaning hard that way. But we've still got some scans to look at and we still have to do what's in his best interest."
