Cowboys QB Romo may play despite injury

Oct 16, 2008 - 1:07 AM IRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- Tony Romo may be down, but he is not out - yet.

The Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl quarterback threw passes with a cast on his broken pinkie Wednesday, and has reportedly asked to start this week against the St. Louis Rams.

Romo was expected to miss four weeks - three games - with the injury, which he suffered on the first play of overtime in Sunday's 30-24 loss to Arizona. The injury is problematic because it is on his throwing hand, but according to published reports, Romo feels he can play.

The quarterback did not practice, but threw passes inside the team's indoor facility.

ESPN reported that Romo asked head coach Wade Phillips to play against St. Louis. Romo, who has thrown for 1,689 yards and an NFL-best 14 touchdowns this season, reportedly had good velocity and was comfortable throwing with the cast.

"He has it in a cast right now, so he's tinkering around, throwing a little bit out there in the bubble," quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Phillips acknowledged that Romo threw the ball, but would not give any more information on the situation.

"I have no idea," Phillips said when asked if Romo is ruled out for Sunday. "All I know is he broke his finger and that's what we said all along. He did throw the ball some. He's testing it out. But he didn't practice at all."

Phillips said Romo will not play if he does not practice. If Romo is indeed out, the 40-year-old Brad Johnson would make his first regular-season start since December 17, 2006, as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.