IRVING, Texas — Matt Cassel is headed to Dallas in a trade as the Cowboys try to bolster their depth at quarterback while Tony Romo is sidelined for what club officials believe will be eight games because of a broken left collarbone.
The Cowboys acquired Cassel from Buffalo on Tuesday, sending a fifth-round pick in 2017 to the Bills.
Brandon Weeden is expected to start Sunday at home against Arizona, but Cassel is a veteran with far more experience than the fourth-year pro.
Cassell has 71 starts in 90 games over 11 seasons, not counting the opener this year when he took the first snap for the Bills with Tyrod Taylor lined up at receiver.
In a procedural move, Dallas placed Romo on injured reserve/designated return.
Romo suffered a distal clavicle fracture in the 20-10 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. That tracks with the IR/return list, which states a player must miss eight weeks but is eligible to resume practicing with the team in six weeks.
He’ll be allowed to return Nov. 17, which is five days before the Cowboys travel to face the Miami Dolphins.
Here’s the twist: The team quickly follows up the game against the Dolphins with its annual Thanksgiving Day matchup.
Two games in five days is a heavy workload for someone returning from a major injury.
EAGLES: Lnebacker Kiko Alonso and defensive tackle Cedric Thornton won’t play Sunday at the New York Jets because of injuries.
Alonso hurt his surgically repaired left knee and Thornton broke a bone in his right hand in a 20-10 loss to Dallas. Linebacker Mychal Kendricks injured a hamstring and has an outside chance to play against the Jets.
JAGUARS: Jacksonville placed rookie receiver Rashad Greene on short-term injured reserve and re-signed receiver Bryan Walters.
WASHINGTON: Rookie linebacker Martrell Spaight is heading to the season-ending injured reserve list.
GIANTS: New York released wide receiver Preston Parker and signed defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis.
Parker had five catches for 43 yards in the first two games but also had a couple drops.
JETS: Wide receiver Eric Decker has a sprained knee, although Coach Todd Bowles is “hopeful” he might be healthy enough to play Sunday against Philadelphia.
An MRI revealed the sprain as Decker avoided a potentially serious injury. Decker said after the Jets’ 20-7 victory Monday night against Indianapolis that doctors thought his posterior cruciate ligament was affected.
TITANS: Tennessee added offensive lineman Dillon Farrell to its practice squad and waived tight end Tevin Westbrook.
Farrell, 25, who is 6-foot-5 and 303 pounds, played eight games for San Francisco last season. He joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent from New Mexico.
STEELERS: Running back DeAngelo Williams is second in the league in rushing yards through two weeks. His reward will be a spot on the bench Sunday when the Steelers travel to St. Louis.
Le’Veon Bell returns from a two-game suspension this weekend and Coach Mike Tomlin said Bell will be the starter. Williams said he understands the arrangement, though Bell said the Steelers would be wise to keep both players involved going forward.
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