LOS ANGELES – Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott is starting Saturday night's preseason opener in his NFL debut.
Tony Romo is among several Cowboys starters being rested Saturday, including left tackle Tyron Smith, tight end Jason Witten, cornerback Orlando Scandrick and linebacker Sean Lee.
The Cowboys have three remaining preseason games, and they've taken a deliberate approach in training camp with certain veteran players and players coming off offseason injuries. Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott also will not play due to a sore hamstring that has sidelined him for several days.
Prescott has taken second-team practice snaps on offense and run the first-team unit when Romo has taken a veteran rest day. The fourth-round pick became the current No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart when Kellen Moore fractured his fibula during the first week of training camp practice. The Cowboys have not signed a veteran to date, choosing instead to increase the reps for Prescott and first-year vet Jameill Showers and evaluate their progress.
Romo has not played in a preseason opener since 2012, and the Cowboys have been deliberate with his training camp practice workload in recent years since undergoing back surgery in 2013.
-Rob Phillips
