Cowboys lineman Colombo breaks left leg

Nov 16, 2009 - 1:56 AM GREEN BAY, Wis.(AP) -- Cowboys starting right tackle Marc Colombo broke his left leg on Dallas' second drive of the first quarter in a 17-7 loss Sunday to Green Bay Packers.

Head coach Wade Phillips said Colombo is expected to have surgery on Monday.

Colombo was injured on the first play of the drive blocking for running back Marion Barber when Packers defensive tackle Johnny Jolly rolled up on the back of Colombo's leg. He was immediately taken for X-rays and the team announced early in the second quarter he had a broken left fibula.

Head coach Wade Phillips said afterward that Colombo had a high ankle sprain and broken fibula.

"He's not necessarily out for the season. That remains to be seen," Phillips said.

Colombo, a former first-round pick by the Bears in 2002, has been a stalwart on the Cowboys' offensive line, starting every game since 2006 - a string of 57 in a row.

"He's been a staple over there for a while now, and that's going to be very tough," Tony Romo said. "He's been playing there for a long time, he's been playing at a high level. We're going to have to all take it upon ourselves to step up and play a little bit better."