Tony Romo suffers bruised right hand

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said a bruised right hand will not keep him from playing in next week's winner-take-all finale at the New York Giants.

"I'll be fine," Romo said as he walked to the elevator after Saturday's 20-7 loss to Philadelphia. "I think I just took a hit from the helmet. We're going to be all right though."

NFL Playoff Scenarios

Which teams hold the tiebreakers, and what's left on the schedule? ESPN breaks it down entering Week 17. Story

• Blog: Week 17 clinching scenarios
• Figure it out: Playoff machine
• Insider: Playoff predictor

Romo was hurt with 9:52 left in the first quarter when Eagles defensive end Jason Babin drove him to the ground on an incomplete pass. Romo was slow to get up and was taken to the locker room for further evaluation.

That's when things got about as interesting as they'd be the rest of the afternoon. The drama began with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones leaving his midfield viewing booth to chat with Cowboys coach Jason Garrett. Jones returned to his booth about the same time Romo returned to the sideline.

X-rays were negative and Romo wanted to return, but he couldn't grip the ball or take a snap, so he got his hand and wrist wrapped. While he was trading his helmet for a baseball cap, team vice president Stephen Jones arrived on the sideline and spoke with trainers.

With the Giants beating the Jets earlier in the day, the outcome of the Eagles' game meant little. Had the Giants lost, Romo would have campaigned more to return, he said.

"I would've tried very hard," Romo said. "No question. I did a little bit but the coaching staff decided against that."

After the game, the top of Romo's hand was noticeably swollen. He said he will not need an MRI on Sunday, but he was not sure when he would be able to practice. Players are off on Sunday but will report to work on Monday.

"I have no idea what's going to happen going forward," Romo said. "I assume I'll be good to go for practice and everything."

Stephen McGee, moved up from third-stringer to backup when Jon Kitna went on injured reserve, took over for Romo and went 24 of 38 for 182 yards, with four runs for 28 yards.

Romo was able to return in Week 2 after fracturing a rib at San Francisco. Pain was not an issue Saturday.

"Just like anything, you kind of feel it and you just move on," Romo said. "If it's not broke, you get out there and do it."

He wasn't able to do it Saturday. He said he will be able to do it Jan. 1 against the Giants.

Todd Archer covers the Cowboys for ESPNDallas.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe

Todd Archer

ESPNDallas.com

• Follow
• Archive

Todd Archer joined ESPNDallas.com in November 2010. He's covered the NFL since 1997 and the Cowboys since 2003. He covered the Bengals and Dolphins before arriving in Dallas. A Massachusetts native, Archer lives in the Dallas area with his wife and two children.