Dak Prescott will start against Cleveland after the rookie quarterback looked like Tony Romo in rallying Dallas past Philadelphia in the fourth quarter and overtime for his sixth straight win.
That’s what Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after the 29-23 victory against the Eagles on Sunday night that put Dallas two games up in the NFC East.
Hold on a minute, though. Jones wasn’t saying Prescott is taking Romo’s job. The owner simply said the Cowboys’ 10-year starter won’t be ready Sunday at Cleveland as he works his way back into shape after breaking a bone in his back in the preseason.
‘‘My opinion is that we would want him to have more strength and work done,’’ Jones said. ‘‘He’s really doing well . . . but he’s got some more to do.’’
So the Cowboys (6-1) can continue to delay the question of what happens when Romo is ready. But with Prescott having a good shot at a seventh straight victory against the winless Browns, it’s unlikely that the issue will get any less complicated.
What was impressive about his latest outing was how unimpressive Prescott was most of the game. Yet he found a way to tie the game with a 22-yard touchdown throw to Dez Bryant late in regulation to cap a 90-yard drive, and led a winning 75-yard march to start the extra period, capped by a 5-yard TD pass to Jason Witten.
‘‘I’m not going to stop,’’ said Prescott, who completed all five passes in overtime to finish 19 of 39 for 287 yards. ‘‘I don’t care how bad I play early on. I don’t care what I do. I’m not going to give up.’’
Roethlisberger OK?
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger practiced in a limited capacity Monday, just two weeks after undergoing surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee.
Whether Roethlisberger is healthy enough to start when the Steelers visit the rival Ravens on Sunday remains to be seen. Still, Roethlisberger, who did not speak to reporters after practice, was initially expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks following the surgery.
Teammates confirmed that Roethlisberger practiced some with the first team and scout team. He also participated in 7-on-7 drills and ran the no-huddle offense during the team’s competition period.
‘‘From what I saw, it was very encouraging,’’ offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert said. ‘‘He threw the ball and he moved around in the pocket pretty good. It’s just a matter if he’s game ready and if he’s willing and able to take those hits because [the Ravens] will be coming and he has to do what’s in his best interest so he doesn’t have any setbacks.’’
Chiefs: Tests given
The Chiefs defended their treatment of Alex Smith after he twice had his head slam into the turf during Sunday’s win in Indianapolis, saying that their quarterback passed concussion tests on the sideline and in the locker room after both of the hits.
Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder also said team physicians and an independent neurologist do not believe that Smith sustained a concussion. Still, he will be evaluated by another neurologist in Kansas City this week before determining whether he can play against Jacksonville on Sunday.
‘‘It’s certainly possible,’’ Burkholder said Monday. ‘‘We’ll go through the return-to-play protocol and see where he’s at it. But yes, it’s possible.’’
Smith was hurt initially when he was hit while sliding in the first quarter Sunday, and Nick Foles took over for about a quarter while Smith went through the protocol. He returned to the game and was hit again on a slide in the second half, and that’s when the Chiefs decided he would not return.
Foles proved to be everything the Chiefs hoped for as a backup. He finished 16 of 22 for 223 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in leading Kansas City to a 30-14 victory.
Smith isn’t the only Chiefs player dealing with injury issues. Running back Spencer Ware did not return to the Colts game after sustaining a concussion — Burkholder said he did not sufficiently pass the same tests that Smith went through. And at this point, it appears unlikely Ware will be available against the Jaguars.
That leaves the Chiefs thin at running back because Jamaal Charles, who is trying to come back from ACL surgery, was due to see Dr. James Andrews after experiencing swelling in the knee.
He has QB’s back
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he’s involved in ongoing discussions with the NFL and the Players Association about ways to make sure league MVP Cam Newton is given the same protection in the pocket as other quarterbacks. Newton blasted NFL officiating following Sunday’s game against the Cardinals after taking a shot to his lower right leg from defensive tackle Calais Campbell as he was releasing the ball. Campbell was not flagged for the hit and the Panthers settled for a short field goal rather than an automatic first down. ‘‘I would like to see our quarterback get those calls,’’ a calm, but stern Rivera said Monday. ‘‘This is something I work on every week, quite frankly,’’ said Rivera, about meeting with NFL officials. ‘‘I don’t talk about it because it’s between me and the league and this team.’’ . . . Cardinals left tackle Jared Veldheer will be placed on injured reserve with a torn triceps and safety/cornerback Tyrann Mathieu will be out 3-6 weeks with a shoulder injury . . . Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips returned to work, his sense of humor still intact after a scary fall when San Diego running back Melvin Gordon plowed into him on the sideline Sunday. ‘‘I am ok today and back to work at what I love,’’ Phillips wrote on Twitter. ‘‘I get the big hit award for the week!’’ . . . Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said the ‘‘fumble’’ ruling that resulted in the first touchdown in the Panthers’ 30-20 win Sunday was not overturned because the NFL replay system had been shut down. All touchdowns are reviewed, but after Carolina’s Thomas Davis picked up the ball and ran 46 yards for a score, the conversion kick came quickly and the call stood. Television replays showed that Carson Palmer had shoved the ball forward in the direction of running back David Johnson. Arians said he was told the replay official ‘‘did not have the proper feed for instant replay, so they shut it down’’ to fix it.
Jones talked with league
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones acknowledged speaking with the NFL’s special counsel for domestic violence investigations, and rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott said he was interviewed by the league this season about an abuse claim made against him.
Elliott said after Sunday night’s 29-23 overtime victory over Philadelphia that he was interviewed once by league investigators about six weeks ago. He characterized there being ‘‘an ongoing investigation’’ but said he didn’t really know what was going on.
Prosecutors in Ohio declined to press charges over the summer in a domestic violence case involving the fourth overall draft pick.
CBS Sports reported Sunday, citing multiple unnamed sources, that Jones raised the topic of the probe during league meetings in Houston about two weeks ago with Lisa Friel, a former New York prosecutor serving as special counsel. That report said they were within earshot of other league and team executives.
Jones said after Sunday night’s game that the two had a ‘‘good discussion.’’ He said the conversation might have gotten loud, but said it was a situation where he had ‘‘to talk over the music.’’
WR Johnson retires
Star wide receiver Andre Johnson is retiring after 14 seasons in a career mainly spent with the Texans. Johnson, 35, a seven-time Pro Bowler, played with Tennessee this season. The Titans announced Monday that Johnson had informed the team of his decision to retire. Johnson ranks among the top 10 receivers in NFL history in catches and receiving yards . . . Receiver Josh Gordon has finished his recent 30-day rehabilitation stay, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press. Gordon currently is suspended indefinitely by the NFL, and while technically still Browns property, the team has said it has ‘‘closed that chapter.’’ . . . Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles is bringing in Adam Dedeaux, a mechanics instructor at 3DQB in Los Angeles, to help tighten up his throwing motion. Dedeaux and partner Tom House have helped Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Tim Tebow, and other NFL quarterbacks in recent years.
Chargers coach Mike McCoy refused to second-guess himself for not putting the ball in Melvin Gordon’s hands on four snaps from the Denver 2 in one of the worst decisions in Week 8. We’ll do the second-guessing for him. Gordon leads the league with 10 touchdowns. He was the first running back to top 100 yards against Denver this season. He averaged 4.8 yards a carry. So, with the Chargers trailing the Broncos, 27-19, with less than three minutes remaining, McCoy had Philip Rivers throw four times. ‘‘We called the plays we did,’’ McCoy said. “We didn’t finish them. We didn’t score. I’m not going to second-guess it now.’’
