Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo making progress but Dak Prescott still QB1

Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott will remain the starter for Sunday's game in Cleveland against the Browns.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones told reporters that Tony Romo is not ready for game action. Romo returned to practice last week on a limited basis after suffering a compression fracture in his back during the team's third preseason game on Aug. 25.

"Tony's not ready to play," Jones said after the Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles 29-23 in overtime on Sunday night at AT&T Stadium.

"My opinion is that we want him to have some more strengthening work done. He's really doing well -- probably as well as at any time last year, as far as aspects of strength in his back is concerned. But he's got some more to do."

Prescott has led the Cowboys (6-1) to six straight victories, including throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jason Witten on the first possession of overtime for the winner against the Eagles. Prescott struggled for most of the night, completing 19 of 39 passes for 287 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 38 yards.

Then in overtime, Prescott completed all five passes for 56 yards and converted a fourth-and-1 with a quarterback sneak.

"Dak had his challenges," Jones said, "but when it really mattered -- not that the whole game didn't matter -- he came through."

Romo has been increasing his conditioning work and last week threw in the scout-team 7-on-7 drills. The earliest Romo may return now is Nov. 13 at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"Tony's making a lot of progress," Jones said. "We're excited about that, but at this particular time I don't have any more (to) clarify. My opinion is Dak will start against Cleveland."

Jones was asked whether he or head coach Jason Garrett will eventually make the call on the Prescott-Romo decision for the rest of the season.

"It will be a combined call, but the No. 1 issue is Tony's health," Jones said. "We know Tony well enough that how he's practicing will tell us how he can play in a game, so we can see it in practice ... we can see all of that in practice.

"Tony is not a guessing game. If this were his first year or early in his career, but Tony has been playing long enough that we can see him execute the farm, throw the ball with the power, get his feet, put his back into it, put his hips into it, and once we see all that we've got confidence he can do it again and that's what we'll look at."