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

“That part has never been an issue, but we’ve got to wait and see,” Romo said. “It will be about your ability to be productive in some fashion. That part of it we will continue to evaluate.”

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 Washington 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.”

—The Cowboys placed linebacker Justin Durant on the season-ending injured reserve list Wednesday.

The move comes after he tore his right biceps in a 20-17 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins on Monday night. Durant had 49 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception this season.

Durant’s roster spot was filled by linebacker Tim Dobbins, who has played eight seasons in the NFL.

—Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III split practice reps with Colt McCoy on Wednesday as he continues to work his way back from a dislocated ankle.

Redskins coach Jay Gruden said Griffin was a full participant in practice. It was Griffin’s first full practice since he dislocated an ankle during Week 2. But there is no official word whether he will be ready to start, or even play, on Sunday at Minnesota. The most likely scenario would be for McCoy to start on the road this Sunday, then, after the Redskins’ bye week, Griffin should be ready to face Tampa Bay at home on Nov. 16.

McCoy, who replaced Kirk Cousins as the starter while Griffin is out, directed the Redskins to their upset of the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. If Griffin is ruled out another week, McCoy will get the start

—New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick calls Peyton Manning the best quarterback he has ever faced in his coaching career.

Belichick’s praise comes two days after his own quarterbacking great, Tom Brady, said he appreciates more than ever his high-profile rivalry with Manning. The Patriots (6-2) face Manning’s Denver Broncos (6-1) at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

“I mean, (Manning is) great, he’s obviously a great quarterback,” Belichick said Wednesday during his press conference. “The best quarterback I’ve coached against. Not to take anything away from the Montanas, Marinos and Elways or whoever is up there with those guys, but (Manning) is tough.”

—The Patriots signed veteran defensive lineman Alan Branch and released rookie linebacker Deontae Skinner on Wednesday.

Branch, 29, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2007-10), Seattle Seahawks (2011-12) and Buffalo Bills (2013).

Skinner, 24, was signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on Sept. 13 and played in seven games with one start, accumulating 10 total tackles.

—Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine said Wednesday that he can sense Johnny Manziel’s frustration as a backup quarterback.

Pettine said that’s understandable, given the rookie is a competitor who is accustomed to producing on the field. Manziel has been “quiet” around the facility lately, according to Pettine.

Manziel is the only first-round quarterback from the rookie class who is not currently playing, taking a backup role in the first seven games to starter Brian Hoyer.

—Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict had arthroscopic knee surgery Wednesday and is expected to miss two games.

Coach Marvin Lewis said Burfict will miss Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and likely next Thursday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns.

Lewis said Burfict underwent surgery to his left knee to remove a particle of cartilage that could have caused damage to the knee.

—The Jacksonville Jaguars placed starting cornerback Alan Ball on season-ending injured reserve with a biceps injury on Wednesday.

Ball suffered the injury during the Jaguars’ 24-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 19. He missed last Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Ball started 15 games last season and the first seven this season and compiled 69 tackles, three interceptions and 17 pass breakups. He led the team with 14 pass breakups in 2013.

—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed quarterback Mike Kafka and wide receiver Tavarres King to the practice squad Wednesday.

Kafka, 27, spent the past four weeks on Tampa Bay’s active roster before being waived Monday. He played with the Bucs during the preseason and spent the first three weeks of the season on the team’s practice squad.

King spent the 2014 offseason and preseason with Carolina and was signed to the team’s practice squad before the start of the regular season. After two weeks, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed him to their active roster, where he was inactive for five games before being waived Oct. 25.

—Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after completing 40 of 49 passes for 522 yards and six touchdown passes against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald took the NFC offensive honor, Miami Dolphins safety Louis Delmas won the AFC defensive award and Kansas City Chiefs running back/kick returner Knile Davis took the AFC special teams honor, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr won the NFC defensive award and Washington Redskins kicker Kai Forbath took the NFC special teams honor.