Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman has said that the team should be worried about Tony Romo's back injury.

The 33-year-old quarterback will miss the NFC East side's final regular season game after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disc.

Aikman, who retired at 34 because of back issues, told the Dallas Morning News: "I think it would be a concern of mine if I was with the Cowboys, having back surgery once again and at his age. It could be a factor going forward as far as his performance.

"I took epidural shots, as I understand Tony [Romo] had this week, and the first time I took them was before the Jacksonville game that season in 2000, and I remember on the day of the game, waking up, and I'd never felt better for a game in my life, and in the first quarter, we completely turned Tony Brackens loose and he slammed me on the turf right flat on my back, and immediately, my back went into spasms.

"So that good feeling lasted about half of a quarter. And I took shots the following week hoping that I could recapture the pain-free symptoms, and it never took again. So, that is why I retired."

The Cowboys will play the Philadelphia Eagles for a place in the playoffs later today.