FRISCO, Texas -- Tony Romo has been the starting quarterback for the past nine Dallas Cowboys' season openers. Even if coach Jason Garrett can't yet say it, that streak is likely to end this year because of a compression fracture in the quarterback's back.
Should Romo be unable to play Week 1, Dak Prescott likely would start in his place on Sept. 11 against the New York Giants. Prescott would become the first rookie quarterback to start a season opener for the Cowboys since Quincy Carter in 2001.
"Yeah, I'm ready," Prescott said. "I'm excited about it. It's an opportunity. It happened in an unfortunate way, but I'm definitely excited for my chance, my opportunity."
Romo will wear a back brace for the next two weeks, according to a source, as he begins his recovery from the hit he took last week from Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril. A source said Romo will miss six to 10 weeks.
"We've gotten a lot of different timetables for when he can return," Garrett said. "We also know that he's played with a broken bone in his back before, so there's no reason for me to stand up here and put a timetable on this. I think a lot of other people outside of this building have suggested they know what the timetable is. That's not the world we live in. We live in the world day by day, do what you can to get yourself better and we'll update you as we go."
In 2014, Romo missed one game with two transverse process fractures after getting kneed in the back in a game against the Washington Redskins.
Prescott took the first-team snaps on Sunday, and Garrett said he is not sure if the fourth-round pick would play in Thursday's preseason finale against the Houston Texans. If he doesn't play, then Jameill Showers would start.
Prescott has impressed in his preseason work, completing 39 of 50 passes for 454 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. He also has run for two scores.
Romo and Prescott exchanged text messages on Saturday.
"Obviously I told him I'm sorry he was hurt and I hope he gets better and gets better soon for his own good," Prescott said. "Just some good texts back. He supported me. He has my back. But this is still his team. I'm just going to try to do my best to hold the fort down, I guess you could say, give this team a great chance to succeed and win games each and every week."
Prescott does not feel like he needs to carry the offense. He would rather play a supportive role, with Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, Ezekiel Elliott and the offensive line carrying the heavy workload.
"You look at the stars for the Pro Bowls on some of these lockers [of the players] that I will be out there on the field with, I don't think much has to be said," Prescott said. "The pressure is not on me. I have guys who can make plays and make my job easier. I'm just going to give those guys the chances they need with the balls and trust my guys up front. I just have to do the best I can."
The Cowboys went 1-11 in games played without Romo last year after he broke his left collarbone twice, finishing the season 4-12. The loss of Romo might seem deflating to some, but Garrett does not want that to permeate the locker room.
"I think the biggest thing for all of us is focus on doing our jobs. That's players and that's coaches," Garrett said. "Adversity is a part of the game. Injuries are a part of the game. You come to work the next day and you put the next guy in there, and if everyone will focus on doing their job, that's the best way to create a good environment for someone who's coming in to play. Everybody focus on doing their job, and I think our team understands that."
Avril, the Seahawks defensive end, was just doing his job when his hit injured Romo; however, he's been catching grief from Cowboys fans on social media, and he said he intends to get in touch with the injured quarterback.
"I'm definitely surprised Cowboys fans have been sending a lot of hate mail -- well, not hate mail, but crazy tweets," Avril said. "I don't really pay too much attention to it. It's kind of interesting to see how you just think you're making a play on the football field and so many people feel a certain way about it. But it is what it is. I don't really care. I plan on reaching out to Romo."
Avril celebrated after bringing Romo down and said he didn't realize at the time that the quarterback was hurt.
"I didn't even see him until after I celebrated and saw he was still on the ground," Avril said. "That's when I noticed something happened. But after he got up and walked to the sideline, I tapped him on his leg or whatever and talked to him for a split second, but I didn't know it was that serious."
Information from ESPN.com Seahawks reporter Sheil Kapadia was used in this report.