Cowboys' starter broke a bone in his neck, will miss months with injury

The Dallas Cowboys will be down one expected starter for a couple of months.

And it's a painful one, a broken neck bone.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday morning that Rob Jones "broke a bone in his neck during Sunday's practice and now is expected to miss 2-3 months."

Jones is an offensive guard who has been working with the starters so far in training camp.

The injury likely forces the Cowboys' hand on a decision: Tyler Booker should have to start now.

Dallas has been slow-playing it with the No. 12 overall pick, instead using the 2022 undrafted Jones as the experienced option with the first unit.

But with Jones out, the Cowboys likely have no choice but to put Booker in with the 1s.

MORE: Bills' James Cook contract saga doesn't lessen his importance to Super Bowl aspirations

It goes from watch-and-learn to sink-or-swim for Booker, but Dallas clearly wouldn't have taken him so high if they didn't believe in his ability to perform when his number was called.

It's not clear exactly what Jones did to break a bone in his neck, but Dallas will be hoping the healing process is safe and effective. When he's back, it's not obvious he'll have a starting role to return to.

MORE NFL NEWS:

• Micah Parsons risks temporary retirement, frozen contract if he leaves training camp
• Eagles' new star explains why 'you can put me outside on the corner of the street'
• We've all been pronouncing Bijan Robinson's name wrong
• Raiders' 325-pound rookie is the scariest Wildcat quarterback ever
• Shedeur Sanders could 'realistically' end up in the CFL
• A toilet is helping Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf build chemistry