Irving, TX (Best E Casino) - Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said Monday that quarterback Tony Romo's status for this week's game against Tampa Bay is "to be determined."

"I think he's going to be similar to where he was last week," Phillips stated Monday, a day after a 34-14 loss at St. Louis.

Romo, despite a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand, was active for this past Sunday's game against the Rams but didn't see any action.

Brad Johnson made the start in Romo's place and completed 17-of-34 passes for 234 yards with three interceptions and a late touchdown for the Cowboys, who have dropped three of four since winning their first three games of the year.

Phillips said Monday that Romo probably could have played Sunday, but had some problems before the contest.

"We didn't feel like he'd be effective," said Phillips. "He was having trouble handling the football in the pregame warmups. Then we got into a situation where it wasn't prudent to put him in anyway."

Romo suffered his injury on October 12 in an overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. There was speculation that he would be able to play against the Rams after taking limited reps in practice during the week.

It was initially thought that Romo would be sidelined for a month with the injury, but Romo was throwing during practice last week with a protective splint on the injured finger.

Romo was hurt on the first play of overtime in the 30-24 setback against the Cardinals, as he was stripped of the football by Chike Okeafor during a scramble. Romo stayed on the field for what turned out to be the final two offensive plays of the game -- both incomplete passes -- as the Cowboys lost on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown.

In six games this season, Romo has completed 64.0 percent of his passes for 1,689 yards with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions.