Cowboys signed QB Jon Kitna.

It's the first we've heard of the 41-year-old Kitna since he retired in January 2012. He's being signed over David Carr, Tyler Thigpen, Caleb Hanie and John Skelton. It's a bizarre move, but owner Jerry Jones is a moth to the flame for players with experience wearing the Cowboys uniform. Kitna was one of the league's better backups for the better part of a decade, but it would be a dangerous situation if a 41 year old who hasn't played in two years was forced into a game. Kitna has attempted 10 passes since the end of the 2010 season.

According to the Dallas Morning News, veteran QB Jon Kitna has decided to retire after 15 NFL seasons.

The 39-year-old dealt with a lingering back injury throughout the season's second half before landing on injured reserve in December. Undrafted out of Central Washington in 1997, Kitna went on to throw for 29,745 yards, 169 touchdowns, and 165 interceptions in 141 NFL games with the Seahawks, Bengals, Lions, and Cowboys. He's expected to turn to high school teaching and coaching in his home town of Tacoma. The Cowboys have been developing Stephen McGee to succeed Kitna as Tony Romo's backup.

Owner/GM Jerry Jones wouldn't rule out the possibility that Jon Kitna's back injury could be career-ending in nature.

"I don't know that he knows as it relates to whether his back will allow him to continue in his career," Jones said. "But it all depends. Apart from the impact of his back, he's very capable of being a player." Kitna turns 40 next September. Any major injury at this point is potentially a career-ender.

Cowboys placed Jon Kitna (back) on injured reserve, ending his season.

The Cowboys couldn't continue to wait on Kitna's troublesome back. He's under contract through 2013, but is owed $2.9 million and turns 40 next season. If the Cowboys can't trust him to be reliable Tony Romo insurance, they'll have to move on. Stephen McGee is now the No. 2 quarterback and Arena League journeyman Chris Greisen has been signed to the practice squad.

Jon Kitna (back) is not expected to be available for at least two more weeks.

The Cowboys are trying to avoid placing Kitna on injured reserve. For now, they are rolling with Stephen McGee as Tony Romo's backup. Kitna is 39 and in the final year of his contract.

The Cowboys put in an unsuccessful waiver claim for Kyle Orton on Wednesday.

So even if the Chiefs had passed on Orton, he wouldn't have made it to the 7-3 Bears. The 6-4 Cowboys were ahead of Chicago in the waiver order. Dallas' interest hints at long-term concern over 39-year-old backup Jon Kitna's problematic back. Stephen McGee has been backing up Tony Romo on game days recently.

Cowboys backup QB Jon Kitna's back injury is "a tick more severe" than his previous issue in the preseason.

Stephen McGee will continue to be Tony Romo's backup while Kitna recovers. For those handcuffing Kitna to Romo for the fantasy playoffs, be ready to jump ship if we get clarification suggesting he will be out for a while.

Backup Cowboys QB Jon Kitna (back) has been declared out for Week 11.

It means third-stringer Stephen McGee will be forced into action if Tony Romo goes down with injury against the Giants. For his career, McGee is 22-of-44 for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Kitna is week-to-week.

Jon Kitna completed 6-of-10 passes for 87 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in Dallas' Week 2 win over San Francisco.

Kitna started the second half after Tony Romo went down with a fractured rib. He looked comfortable early, but quickly become plagued by miscommunication issues, throwing two ugly interceptions. At that point Romo came back into the game, fractured rib and all. Kitna is still one of the league's best backups, especially when he can game-plan with his offense heading into a start. If Romo is scratched in Week 3, he'd would make for a nice pickup.

ESPN Dallas' Todd Archer confirms that Jon Kitna is "entrenched" as the Cowboys' No. 2 quarterback.

Third-stringer Stephen McGee didn't embarrass himself in three late-season spot starts, but Kitna is locked in as Tony Romo's backup and handcuff in deep fantasy leagues. Now entering his age-39 season, Kitna's strength is completing passes. He isn't going to wow anyone with arm strength or athleticism, but went a respectable 4-5 after Romo's injury and played with efficiency.

The Dallas Morning News' Rainer Sabin fully expects Jon Kitna to remain Tony Romo's primary back-up in 2011.

Kitna is set to make roughly $2.6 million in 2011, and after throwing for 16 touchdowns and 2,365 yards while completing 65.7 percent of his passes when Romo was sidelined with a broken collarbone last season, he showed he's still a more than capable NFL quarterback. Third-stringer Stephen McGee showed some flashes of promise last year, but not nearly enough to suggest he's ready to give Kitna a run for his money in training camp.

Jon Kitna (oblique) confirmed that he could have played in Sunday's season finale, but couldn't guarantee that he would have made it through the game.

Kitna took a pain-killing injection, but did the wise thing by sitting out. He finishes with a 4-5 record in place of Tony Romo, throwing for 2,365 yards and 16 touchdowns against 12 picks. Entering his age-39 season, Kitna showed more than enough to return as Romo's backup in 2011.

Jon Kitna (oblique) is active for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, but Stephen McGee will start.

Kitna looked good in warmups, throwing the ball with good zip and not grimacing in pain. But McGee prepared all week as the starter and the Cowboys are going to give the kid a chance. Kitna is the No. 2 quarterback. With the Eagles resting all their regulars, McGee makes for a QB2 fantasy play. Cowboys inactives: Third QB Chris Greisen, WR Tedy Williams, T Alex Barron, T Jermey Parnell, G/C Phil Costa, DE Clifton Geathers, S Andrew Sendejo and K Kris Brown.

Cowboys signed QB Chris Greisen from their practice squad.

It's the strongest indication yet that Jon Kitna (oblique) won't be playing in Week 17. Stephen McGee will start, and Greisen will be his backup.

Jon Kitna (oblique) missed practice again on Friday.

Kitna is expected to make the trip to Philadelphia this weekend, but rookie Stephen McGee is still in line to make his first career start.

Jon Kitna (oblique) sat out Thursday's practice.

Kitna said Wednesday that he's feeling better, but he remains a longshot to play this weekend. Stephen McGee is in line for his first career start.

Jon Kitna (oblique) said he felt better Wednesday but admitted that was no way he could play if the game was that day.

"We're still a ways away from the game, so we'll just see," Kitna said. "It's one of those things where it could be feeling really bad for three or four days and then the next day it could just be gone. Hopefully, that's the case." Stephen McGee remains the heavy favorite to start this week.

Jon Kitna (oblique) sat out Wednesday's practice.

No surprise here. All indications are that Kitna will sit out this weekend, with Stephen McGee getting his first career start.

Cowboys interim coach Jason Garrett says Jon Kitna (oblique) will play in Week 17 if he's healthy enough to do so.

We assumed Kitna would get the call if he's ready, but the fact that the Cowboys have signed Chris Greisen to the practice squad says more about Kitna's status for Week 17. Owner Jerry Jones said Monday that Kitna would have "a real challenge playing," and we haven't seen anything since then to suggest he's trending in a positive direction. Expect Stephen McGee to receive his first career start this weekend.

Jon Kitna has been diagnosed with a left oblique muscle injury.

Kitna is questionable for the Cowboys' season finale. If he can't go, Stephen McGee will start and the Cowboys will look to the street for a backup.