What It Means:

Garrett added that he's "heard a whole range of possibilities about when Romo could return," but "none of those possibilities include being out all year." The timeline being thrown around by most reporters is 6-to-10 weeks, though six weeks is obviously on the optimistic side. The Cowboys will likely open the season playing slow-paced, run-first football. ESPN reported his specific injury is a "compression fracture of his L1 vertebrae." Romo will not require surgery, meaning he'll need rest and rehab to heal. Rookie Dak Prescott is set up to make at least four starts, if not more depending on 36-year-old Romo's recovery. Prescott has blown up the preseason, throwing for 454 yards and a five touchdowns, with no interceptions through three games.

Our algorithms project Prescott for 1,535 passing yards, 7.85 touchdowns and 6.06 interceptions on 227 passing attempts, as well as 102 rush yards and 0.76 touchdowns on 23 attempts. This is based on Prescott starting six games, but this is a very fluid situation, depending on Romo's health.