Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo reached another milestone in his recovery from a broken collarbone when he threw at the beginning of Monday's practice.

Romo did not dress out, but he participated in the pat-and-go portion of passing drills during warm-ups.

The light work was his first at practice since he suffered the injury in the first half of a loss to the New York Giants on Oct. 25.

Romo also threw some before the Cowboys' win over Detroit on Nov. 21.

Record not a factor

Sporting a 3-8 record after last week's 30-27 loss to New Orleans, Dallas has been all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. But that hasn't stopped the Cowboys from considering playing Romo again this season should the collarbone heal 100 percent.

"The mindset we have as an organization, and certainly Tony has, is to get himself as healthy as he can as quickly as he can," interim head coach Jason Garrett said.

In Romo's absence, Jon Kitna has completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,536 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Brandon Wade/AP

Dallas is 2-3 in Kitna's five starts. Against the Saints, he helped rally the Cowboys from a 17-point first-half deficit.

Bottom line: Kitna has played well. But Garrett suggested only one factor will come into play when a decision is made regarding Romo's status.

"We're going to make this a medical decision for him," Garrett said at his news conference in Irving. "We just have got to see how he responds. It's a serious injury for anybody, but particularly if you're trying to play quarterback in the NFL. You've got to make sure that thing is healed up."

When he's not rehabbing, Romo has served as a sounding board for Kitna.

"He's engaged with our football team," Garrett said of Romo. "He's certainly been involved in the preparation leading up to a game and then certainly on the sideline during the game. He's one of the real leaders on the team."

Kitna feels at home

Kitna, 38, is under contract through 2011. He indicated Monday he'd like to finish his career with the Cowboys.

"The thing I'm learning about myself is what I've always felt: that given the right guys around me, I could play at a very high level in this league," Kitna said. "I enjoy playing with these guys. I love this game. I love competing. I like it here. This is my place."

torsborn@express-news.net