Dallas Cowboys Lose QB Tony Romo for the rest of the Season

The Dallas Cowboys have lost their starting quarterback Tony Romo for the rest of the season due to a hairline fracture in his left collarbone.

Romo sustained the injury after getting hit by Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis in the third quarter of the Thanksgiving Day game, which the Cowboys lost 33-14. A CT scan revealed a small crack by Romo's distal fracture, which had just healed from his Sept. 20 injury.

Prior to his injury, Romo had thrown three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

"Some of the poor decisions that were made were just uncharacteristic and very frustrating," Romo said in a post-game interview. "I'm disappointed in costing our team a good chance to stay in the game early."

Romo had competed 11 of 21 passes for 106 yards before he was injured.

Jerry Jones, the Cowboys owner and general manager, confirmed Romo's fracture on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. He added that Romo will not have to undergo surgery and should be able to make a full return by spring, when the offseason program begins.

Jones also addressed Romo's return, stating that their decision to let him back on the filed was not "premature."

"We felt that the risk was worth the potential of having him be the impact he can be and he is on our team," Jones explained. "And really having a fairy tale turnaround and doing something that was special, to me, that's what we're about. That's what sports is about. You shouldn't ever quit trying to do something that is extraordinary. This time last year, for instance, Carolina was 3-8-1, and so it happens. Of course, with Tony, the dream was if Tony could have come in, been the catalyst, played similarly and had results we had the week before against Miami, against a really great team ... that it would've been the beginning of maybe something special."

For the time being, Matt Cassel will be the team's starter. Since being traded to the Cowboys from the Buffalo Bills, Cassel has been 0-4.

The Cowboys are 3-8 and fourth in the NFC Eastern Division.