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Jerry Jones: What dilemma? Tony Romo, not Dak Prescott, will start for the Cowboys when healthy

The emergence of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott (4) has created uncertainty about the future of veteran Tony Romo, right.
(Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)
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The Dallas Cowboys have a huge problem on their hands.

Jerry Jones’ squad appears to be just a couple weeks away from having Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo back after breaking a bone in his back during the preseason. But when that happens, what about rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, who has led the Cowboys to a 4-1 record and has yet to throw an interception?

Like I said, it’s a big problem.

Of course if I actually said that to Jones, he’d likely laugh in my face.

“I’ll show you some hard days around here without a quarterback if you want one that’ll really make you pout,” the Cowboys owner-general manager told reporters Sunday after a 28-14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

He added: “I will tell you this is a wonderful position if you’re in my shoes to be in. To have Dak playing at the level he is, and know that Tony is repaired. ... We’re pretty good at quarterback, as far as normal times go for the Cowboys.”

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Plus, as far as Jones is concerned, there is no dilemma. The job is Romo’s, like it has been since 2006 — even though he actually hasn’t been healthy enough to do that job a whole lot lately. The 36-year-old veteran played in only four games last season after breaking his collarbone twice in two different spots.

“Tony is our No. 1 quarterback. We’re going to have the luxury of being able to, I think, see them both,” Jones said of Romo, who also suffered serious back injuries in 2013 and 2014. “I don’t want to presume that Dak is going to be necessarily healthy, I don’t want to presume anything like that. But I welcome the opportunity of having Dak playing at this level and Tony back in excellent health. It’s going to be really special for the Cowboys.”

Jones said he “expects a good report” from Romo’s MRI, scheduled for Monday. And if that’s the case, he could be ready for Dallas’ game against the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 30.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys have won four straight with Prescott running the show. In five games this season, he has completed 69% of his passes for 1,239 yards and a 101.5 passer rating with four touchdowns. His mark of 155 passes without an interception is eight shy of Tom Brady’s all-time record at the start of an NFL career.

And since Prescott is also sharing the headlines with another Cowboys rookie standout, running back Ezekiel Elliott, many people are speculating that the future is now in Dallas.

But Jones apparently isn’t one of them.

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charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii

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