The Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will not require surgery on his fractured left collarbone and is expected to miss about eight weeks of the National Football League season.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The four-times Pro Bowl quarterback suffered the injury after being sacked in the third quarter of the Cowboys' Week Two victory over the division rival Philadelphia Eagles.
"No surgery needed... See you soon," Romo, who suffered a similar injury in Week Seven of the 2010 NFL season and missed the rest of the campaign, Tweeted.
Romo had completed 18 of his 27 passes for 195 yards at the time of the injury, the latest blow to a Dallas team that could be without All-Pro receiver Dez Bryant until December after he broke a small bone in his foot during last week's season opener.
If the timetable for Romo is accurate, the quarterback could return for the final seven games of the 16-game regular season.
Dallas coach Jason Garrett said that Brandon Weeden, who replaced Romo, will be the starting quarterback versus the visiting Atlanta Falcons this weekend.
"Priority one has to be taking care of the rehab and getting him back as quickly as possible," Garrett told reporters.
Weeden, who is 5-16 in career starts in the NFL, completed all seven of his passes for 73 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams, in place of Romo.
"Brandon's done a really nice job getting himself prepared, mentally, physically and emotionally," said Garrett.
"He has started games in the NFL... he probably reflects back on those times and thinks about some of the things he did well... and address some of the things he didn't do quite so well."
Meanwhile San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula says nothing should be read into Jarryd Hayne spending most of the team's lopsided loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on the sideline
NFL player Jarryd Hayne Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Tomsula said the 49ers wanted to test out rookie running back Mike Davis against the Steelers, but added Hayne was being looked at more as a special teams contributor.
"I wanted him playing," Tomsula, speaking of Davis, told reporters.
"We think Michael Davis is a good running back.
"Just quite honestly, Jarryd Hayne does more on special teams and different areas for us than Michael."
With top running back Carlos Hyde suffering a bruised thigh and a head-knock in Sunday's game, back-up Reggie Bush out with a calf strain and punt-returner Bruce Ellington also hurt, Hayne was expected to play major minutes.
But, the former Australian NRL star came on for just four offensive snaps at running back and DeAndrew White was used in the second half as punt-returner in yesterday's 43-18 demolition in Pittsburgh.
Davis took 41 snaps at running back.
In last week's regular season opening win against the Minnesota Vikings the 49ers went with Hayne as Hyde's back-up and left Davis off the 46-man game day squad.
The 49ers will attempt to regroup when they travel to Phoenix this weekend to play one of the NFL's hottest teams, the Arizona Cardinals, who won their first two games.
