The future of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is hanging in the balance, but the player seemed anything but troubled when spotted out and about in Washinton, DC, on Wednesday night.

Romo, who was benched after a preseason back injury but played briefly in the Cowboys' January 1 game, was seen at the new Trump International Hotel in the city with wife Candice Crawford and others.

Whether he's in town for the inauguration is unknown, Fox 4 said - but given his previous involvement in Republican politics, and an apparently warm relationship with Donald Trump, it seems likely.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (seen benched on Jan 1) has been replaced by a rookie and looks to be on the out with the team - but was able to cheer himself up with a visit to DC Weds

Romo (center) was spotted at the Trump International Hotel in DC. This pic was tweeted with the text: 'Check out romo going into trump DC with a bunch of GOP pols. Real winners circle'

North Texan Eric Meyers is one of many from DFW in DC for inauguration. Says he ran into Tony Romo at dinner in Trump hotel last night. pic.twitter.com/2V3Aacm3LU — Allison Harris (@allisonfox4news) January 18, 2017

The player was also spotted with a group of 'GOP pols' outside the hotel, according to Twitter user MCGreertown.

Romo had supported Scott Walker during the primaries, saying that he had 'gotten to know' the fellow Wisconsinite during his campaign.

After Walker dropped out, Romo never switched allegiance to Trump, but the President-elect has previously expressed a fondness for the player.

'The fact that Tony Romo got hurt is a terrible thing for the Dallas Cowboys,' Trump said in 2015, according to The Washington Post.

'I think Tony's a great guy, I know him and he's also a great football player and it certainly will hurt Dallas.'

Walker has also attended the White House Correspondents' Dinners with Crawford in the past.

So it makes sense that that his interest in politics would put him at the heart of the Republican Party's big day on Friday.

Romo could probably do with the distraction, too.

While those closest to Romo on the Cowboys have declined to comment on his future, it seems likely that his days with the team - and possibly the sport - are numbered.

After ten years, 156 games and franchise bests of 248 touchdowns and 34,183 yards passing, he was replaced by rookie sensation Dak Prescott after a preseason back injury - raising questions about his future in the sport.

For now, at least, owner and general manager Jerry Jones isn't committing to giving up the veteran Cowboy.

'There's several cards to be played,' he said on his radio show Tuesday.

'Don't think for one minute if you see something written or something said about what and where Romo is going to be relative to our team that there's any credibility to it.

'There's only one that can make that decision, and there's been no decision made.'

Most likely, though, Romo is heading for a trade or a release - but he will have at least some say in where he goes thanks to his strong relationship with the Jones family and coach Jason Garrett.

Romo lost his spot as Cowboys quarterback to fast-rising rookie Dak Prescott (pictured) after suffering a preseason back injury, leaving his future on the team in question

'We certainly want the best for him, whether he is here or whether he is somewhere else,' said Garrett, who has grown close to the player over the years.

'So good things will happen for Tony Romo. A lot of things will be discussed over the next few weeks.'

It's also been suggested by several observers that Romo - who has two children with Crawford, and a healthy bank balance - could retire altogether.

Romo currently has $19.6 million of uncollected signing bonus, so if he retires that money would come out of the team's 2017 pot, CBS DFW reported.

But that would save them $5.1 million on next year's cap, and clear substantial amounts of space in the budget for the years afterward: $25.2 million in the 2018 season and $23.7 million for the 2019 season.

Romo made his only appearance in the regular-season finale at Philadelphia when the Cowboys already had home-field advantage locked up in the NFC playoffs.

The four-time Pro Bowler led a touchdown drive in his only series.

'I really believe that Tony Romo will play in a Super Bowl,' Jones said. 'Now try that one on. I know that if he's healthy enough, he'll be in a Super Bowl. I strongly believe that.'

Jones just didn't say with which team.