FRISCO, Texas _ While the controversy surrounding the Dallas Cowboys' impending quarterback decision between rookie sensation Dak Prescott and injured incumbent Tony Romo continues to rage, coach Jason Garrett maintains a pragmatic and realistic approach.
Romo, who has missed the first six games of the season with a fractured bone in his back, is not ready to play or even return to practice for the matter. And any discussion about the future is pointless to the, one day at a time, one practice at a time Cowboys coach.
The Cowboys (5-1) have a bye this week and will have just one short practice on Wednesday. Romo will not take part in that, per Garrett. It means it's unlikely he returns for the Oct. 30 match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles following the bye, given that there is no way he could be ready to play on three days of work even if he is cleared to return next week.
"I would not anticipate that," Garrett said of Romo practicing this week. "We are going to have a short practice on Wednesday. Tomorrow is going to be a run and lift day for the guys. We haven't talked about the players who aren't going to be available. Again, Tony is just working on his rehab, trying to get better every day."
So what is Romo going to be doing this week?
"I think he is continuing to ramp up what his rehab is, spend more time with the trainers. Spend more time with the strength coaches, do a little bit more stuff on the field," Garrett said.
Garrett acknowledged an appreciation for the public fascination with the quarterback debate, but he also refused to feed into it.
He also avoided answering any leading questions regarding if he felt he owed Romo the opportunity to start because of his years of service and sacrifice to the franchise.
"The biggest thing we try to do is we try to focus on the day," Garrett said. "Tony is doing a great job with his rehab. He's worked very hard to come back like he has over the past couple years when he's dealt with some of these injuries. Football is very important to him, and he works very hard at it.
"What we ask him to do, what we charge him to do, what we challenge him to do every day is, do what you need to do today to get better. A big part of his life right now is spending time with our trainers, with our strength coaches and slowly work him back into throwing. That's what he's focused on. In regard to Dak Prescott, his job is to prepare to play. He's been playing quarterback for us for the first six ball games, and he comes to work every day _ prepare, prepare, prepare _ then goes to the game on Sunday afternoons. He's done a good job of that."
Garrett said he doesn't deal in hypotheticals and declined to admit whether the team has even discussed the quarterback issue for down the line.
"What we try to do is, we try to focus on what's in front of us right now and do the best job we can as players and coaches," Garrett said. "That's the atmosphere we try to create."
After repeated questions about Romo, Garrett turned from coach to comedian.
"Does this microphone work?" Garrett asked rhetorically with a smile on his face to a room full of laughter. "We are going to focus on today."
