Romo to ramp up conditioning and throwing this week

Tony Romo is on pace to return after the Cowboys' Week 7 bye.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on NFL GameDay Morning that Romo will ramp up his rehab this week with increased conditioning and throwing. Thursday marks the six-week point after Romo injured his back.

Dallas targeted Week 8 for its veteran quarterback to return to the lineup, which gives Romo another four weeks of rehab.

Owner Jerry Jones and coach Jason Garrett have continually said it's Romo's job when healthy, despite the play of rookie Dak Prescott.

"The Cowboys have said everything properly publicly, that it is Tony Romo's job, but they have left it a little more open when they talk privately," Rapoport said.

Prescott (2-1) has started his career with 99 pass attempts without an interception. In Romo's 127 career starts, he has two three-plus game streaks without a giveaway (three-game streak in 2011, four-game streak in 2009). Among QBs to start three games this season, only Prescott and fellow rookie Carson Wentz do not have a giveaway.

Prescott will face the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday. The Cowboys then host the Bengals and travel to Lambeau Field to face the Packers before the Week 7 bye. If the rookie continues his superb play against better defenses, it could make Jason Garrett's decision to go back to Romo more difficult in Week 8.