Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday that quarterback Tony Romo’s status for Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals will be based on his pain tolerance.

Romo suffered what team officials described as a back contusion on a third-quarter sack in Monday night’s 20-17 overtime loss to the Redskins.

“At this time we have nothing medically that would prevent him from playing,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “This is a function of pain tolerance, but it’s a serious issue that you could look at people who have had a similar type contusion, or injury, and they haven’t played the next week. That would cause you some concern about him playing.”

Jones said the team might not know Romo’s status until kickoff Sunday.

Jones also said the injury is unrelated to the back surgery Romo underwent last December.

“It is not at this juncture in anyway a season-ending injury. But it is one that raises the question whether he can tolerate a certain amount of pain in that area,” Jones said.

Romo had an MRI on Tuesday, and the team hasn’t disclosed any specific information regarding the contents of the images or their impact on his diagnosis and prognosis.

“He can play without further damage,” Jones said.

The team will continue to evaluate Romo this week, but Jones made it clear that the decision to play or not lies with Tony.

“Make no mistake, it’s the player’s decision (to return). It’s not like concussions,” Jones said.

The Cowboys owner received criticism for standing on the sideline during the game and communicating with head coach Jason Garrett. Some speculated that Jones was pressuring his head coach to put Romo back in the game.

“I wanted to let him know that principally, he wasn’t out for the year,” Jones said. “Secondly, even better than that, he was coming back to play. Not at all whether to play him or not. That’s his decision.”

The 34-year-old Romo missed two series in Monday’s game. After convincing medical personnel, Romo returned for the team’s final two drives, including the game-clinching turnover on downs in overtime.

Backup quarterback Brandon Weeden, who led Dallas to 10 points on two drives including a game-tying 80-yard touchdown drive, would fill in should Romo miss time.