IRVING, Texas - Talk about adding injury to insult.
No, the Cowboys couldn't just become the first team in NFL history to lose a game on a blocked punt in overtime. It has to be worse than that.
They came back Monday and learned that yes, the state of the team is much worse than just being 4-2 after losing a 30-24 overtime thriller to the Cardinals.
The Cowboys now must find a way to win without starting quarterback Tony Romo, who is out for at least a month with a broken pinkie on his right throwing hand.
If that's not enough, the Cowboys also learned that rookie running back Felix Jones has a strained hamstring and will likely miss at least two weeks. And then punter Mat McBriar has a fractured right foot and is out 6-8 weeks, which could possibly mean a spot on injured reserve.
And just for good measure, let's throw in wide receiver Sam Hurd re-injuring his high ankle sprain and will need surgery, possibly season-ending. Outside linebacker Anthony Spencer should miss at least a week with a hamstring strain.
Let's not forget that cornerback Terence Newman is out for at least three more weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia last week. Safeties Roy Williams (broken arm) and Pat Watkins (neck) could return this week but may not be 100 percent.
Needless to say, head trainer Jim Maurer and his staff won't get much sleep this week.
And having to figure out a lineup for next week's game in St. Louis, don't expect head coach Wade Phillips to get much rest either.
But losing Romo for any matter of time, especially what figures to be the next three games, is the biggest blow.
Romo, who passed for 321 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, suffered the injury on the first play of overtime when he was sacked from behind and fumbled, although he used his left hand to recover the ball. However, Romo threw two straight incomplete passes on the remainder of the drive, which preceded the blocked punt that led to the Cardinals' dramatic victory.
Romo won't need surgery, after having a non-displaced fracture on his right pinky. He will be in a cast for a few weeks and probably won't be ready to play again until the Nov. 16 game in Washington, which is coming off the team's bye week.
Phillips said the team has no choice but to rally around backup Brad Johnson, a 17-year veteran.
"Brad Johnson is going to be playing quarterback for us this week and we have complete confidence in him," Phillips said. "Our team, I think, will rally around him, along with the rest of the guys playing, and everybody is going to do their job and they're going to do it the best they can do it, and we're going to demand they do that, and that's what's going to happen."
Johnson said he has been in this situation before, both as a starter and backup in his career. While he is excited for the opportunity, Johnson understands the importance of losing a player like Romo.
"Obviously, it's unfortunate for Tony to have to go through something like this," Johnson said. "He'll recover quick, he has a great attitude about it. At this time, it's really just important for the offense especially to just kind of catch on to my snap count, and the way we manage the huddle. I'm excited about the opportunity, worked hard to get here."
While Johnson doesn't have the arm strength of Romo and definitely isn't as mobile in the pocket, the savvy veteran is confident that the Cowboys can still win with him under center.
"We play two different games. There are a lot of different ways to win in this league," Johnson said. "We see it every week with different quarterbacks and different types of strengths, from the way they manage the game to the way they throw the ball, the velocity of the ball, different schemes. I've been in six different systems and pretty much won in most of those systems. I don't think too much will change from that."
And the same goes for the playbook. Johnson said not to expect a big overhaul from the offensive game plan, set up by offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.
"We're not going to change the names of the plays. The system is already in place," Johnson said. "We'll run about 90 percent of the plays we've been running. When I've had suggestions in the past, it's always been what is best for Tony, with Jason. Now obviously it will be Jason and I working together. It may be some things that I like a little better for me, compared to maybe what was best for Tony."
There is confidence in Johnson. But even Phillips admits the Cowboys are in a tough spot due to an overhaul of injuries.
But the always positive Phillips was doing his best "on-the-bright-side" routine in Monday's press conference.
"Sometimes adversity brings you together," Phillips said. "We're having some adversity as far as injuries are concerned. I think they are going to react the right way, just because the kind of heart and determination they have in those situations that are dire situations. We have to get those into the regular situations."
Phillips was referring to the fact the Cowboys have showed some late-game intensity this season, including rallying from 10 points down to force overtime Sunday in Arizona, and nearly making a similar comeback against Washington.
"This team, when its back is to the wall, seems to be more determined," Phillips said. "We need to do that the whole time and that is what we're going to try to focus on. I don't question their effort. I think our determination is to feel like we're behind to start the game and play the whole game that way. That's what we need to do."
But even though the Cowboys are facing a one-win team in the Rams this week, it's a team that just knocked off the Redskins on the road this past Sunday.
Take that, coupled with the slew of injuries, including the one that has the team's franchise quarterback in a cast for a month, and the Cowboys certainly have no reason for these flat beginnings.
Whether or not the Cowboys are starting to look like a M.A.S.H. unit, the players know no one is feeling sorry for them.
"We just have to go out and play together . . . hopefully this will bring this team closer together," linebacker Bradie James said. "If we don't come together right now, we won't meet our goals for the year."
With Romo out, James, one of the defensive captains, said there is no better time for the defense to step up.
"We know we have to go out there and stop teams from scoring," James said. "Basically, we can't rely on our offense now. We have to create some takeaways and create some scores on defense. That just has to be our mentality."
Maybe it should've been the mentality all along. Maybe the Cowboys truly can come together as a team with so many key players out.
And we thought Sunday was bad. Maybe it's only going to get worse.
But those are all things the Cowboys at least have control over.
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Nick Eatman - 
