The already slumping Dallas Cowboys now must survive a few games without two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo, who has a broken finger on his throwing hand.

There was indeed something wrong when Romo badly missed on his last two pass attempts to Terrell Owens in a 30-24 overtime loss at Arizona on Sunday, the Cowboys' second defeat in three games. Coach Wade Phillips said yesterday that Romo broke his right pinkie on the first play of OT.

Brad Johnson, the 40-year-old backup whose last start was in 2006 for Minnesota, takes over Sunday when Dallas plays at St. Louis.

"Obviously, it's unfortunate for Tony to have to go through something like this. He'll recover quick; he has a great attitude about it," Johnson said.

Phillips said Romo won't need surgery.

In overtime, Arizona blocked a punt and recovered it for a game-ending touchdown — a play that also cost Dallas its punter, Mat McBriar.

McBriar, a University of Hawai'i alum, was carted off the field, and an MRI yesterday showed he has a broken foot. He could be out two months.

Also, rookie running back Felix Jones will be out two to four weeks after injuring his left hamstring against Arizona.

ELSEWHERE

Colts: Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy confirmed yesterday, after nearly two months of deflecting questions, that quarterback Peyton Manning was operated on a second time before returning to the field in late August. Dungy doesn't believe the second operation — to fix an infected bursa sac — was the reason the team has struggled.

In the booth: John Madden will miss calling an NFL game this weekend after working 476 in a row. The 72-year-old Sunday Night Football analyst, who travels by bus because of a fear of flying, will take a break to spend time with his family instead of making three straight cross country trips, NBC said.

Jaguars: Offensive tackle Richard Collier, paralyzed from the waist down following a shooting in September, has been released from the hospital. Collier had 14 gunshot wounds to his back, left groin, left leg and right buttock. A bullet severed his spinal cord, causing the paralysis, and his left leg had to be amputated because of blood clots.

Lions: Quarterback Jon Kitna says he expects to play eventually this year, but doesn't know if he will this week against Houston. Kitna started against Chicago on Oct. 5, but left the game with back spasms.

Seahawks: Seattle will be without quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for at least one more game because a months-old bulging disk in his back is causing problems with his knee.

Redskins: Former Seattle running back Shaun Alexander will visit the Washington Redskins today and is expected to sign with the team if he passes a physical examination.

Bears: Chicago offensive linemen Terrence Metcalf was suspended for four games for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

Bengals: Quarterback Carson Palmer will miss at least one more game because of a sore passing elbow.