Cowboys meet with Austin Davis, still looking to sign quarterback
6:10 PM ET
Jean-Jacques Taylor
ESPN Staff Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys would like to sign a veteran quarterback just in case something happens to Jameill Showers, who's expected to play the entire game Thursday against Houston.
Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said quarterback Dak Prescott is not expected to play against Houston. Jones said Romo will be on the final 53-man roster for at least 48 hours until the club decides whether to put him on injured reserve. Putting him on injured reserve would free up a roster spot and they could re-call him to the active roster when he's healthy.
The Cowboys met with Austin Davis, who was released by the Cleveland Browns two days ago, on Wednesday but have not reached an agreement with the free-agent quarterback. Even if the Cowboys sign Davis, it's unlikely he would play against Houston.
Last year, Davis played three games with Cleveland and passed for 547 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Davis spent his first three seasons with the St. Louis Rams. In 2014, he played in 10 games and passed for 2,001 yards with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
"Obviously, he's done some good things in this league and competed against us in a very competitive way," Jones said. "He's done some good things. He's obviously someone of interest to us right now."
Receiver Cole Beasley is the Cowboys' emergency quarterback.
Jones has no doubt Romo will return this season. He just doesn't know when Romo will return.
"He's very driven to do what it takes to get back," Jones said of Romo. "We've really done a lot of research on this, and it was a very freak accident. It's unfortunate for Tony that he's has some of these things but I think the last thing in the world we're worried about with Tony is being fragile. Everybody saw the hit -- the tackle -- it was awkward and most doctors would tell you that whoever that would've been would've had a hard time coming through that without some sort of injury."
Before last season, Romo had played in 62 of 64 games, but the 36-year-old Romo missed 12 games and parts of two others last season after breaking his collarbone twice. The emergence of Prescott in the preseason has lessened the loss of Romo. Prescott has completed 78 percent of his passes in the preseason for 454 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions.
Now, it's up to Prescott and the Cowboys to stay in position to make the playoffs until Romo returns. The Cowboys' backup quarterbacks were 1-11 last season.
"He is undeterred and really believes this time does have a different mindset with him not being here that we can win games and when he does get back he's ready to make a run," Jones said "I think Tony is more prepared to have success in this league than he's ever been.
"He's gotta stay healthy and he has to be able to play, but if he does that mentally and his knowledge of this game and what our offense is all about is the best it has ever been. We look forward to winning some football games as we move forward and when Tony gets back the team will be ready for him."