Johnson Expected To Start vs. Rams
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ST. LOUIS - Backup quarterback Brad Johnson will start Sunday against the St. Louis Rams, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones told reporters outside the team's hotel.
Tony Romo, who has started 32 consecutive games, is expected to be active but not start because of a fractured right little finger suffered last Sunday against Arizona.
Romo, who originally was projected to miss four weeks, practiced on a limited basis Thursday wearing a protective splint on his injured finger (throwing hand). Johnson, however, took most of the first-team reps all week and Romo did not participate in Friday's final full practice.
Romo has not missed a game since becoming a full-time starter in Week 8 of the 2006 season. Sunday will mark Johnson's first start since Dec. 17, 2006, as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
During the week, Romo experimented with different protective equipment that would reduce the risk of further injury to his non-displaced fracture. He appeared to be wearing a different wrap during the open portion of Friday's practice and only threw a few light passes. On Thursday, he took a few first-team reps but did not hand the ball off.
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips did not announce a starter on Friday but said Romo's availability would be a "bonus."
The Cowboys could choose to keep all three of their quarterbacks active - Johnson, Romo and Brooks Bollinger - given Romo's injury. Bollinger, signed before the season opener, has been the inactive third quarterback in each of the first six games.
The Cowboys haven't started a backup quarterback because of injury since the 2004 Thanksgiving Day game, when Drew Henson replaced Vinny Testaverde against the Chicago Bears. Testaverde, however, returned for the second half and rallied the Cowboys to victory.
Johnson has started 122 of 167 games in his 17-year career.