The Cowboys' dreams of a turnaround season and Super Bowl contention were suddenly endangered Monday night by the knee of Redskins linebacker Keenan Robinson.
Tony Romo took a hit in his surgically repaired back from Robinson on a sack midway through the third quarter of their game at AT&T Stadium, and after staying on the ground surrounded by medical personnel for several minutes, walked off the field under his own power and was taken back to the locker room.
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But after talking to medical personnel in the locker room, the hallway outside of it, and then on the sidelines, Romo went back into the game after the two-minute warning, replacing backup Brandon Weeden. The game was tied at 17 at the time. Dallas eventually lost 20-17 in overtime.
The Cowboys trailed Washington 10-7 with 7:41 left in the third quarter when Robinson blitzed up the middle unblocked and, as Romo turned to protect himself, crashed into Romo, who immediately grabbed his back.
Romo underwent surgery on his back in January after injuring it in Week 16 last season in Washington. He was brought back slowly during training camp and has been given regular days off from practice during the week all season — and he and the Cowboys entered Monday's game at 6-1, tied for the best record in the NFC.
The Cowboys punted on the next play after Romo's injury, and when they got the ball back, Weeden took over at quarterback.