Just as the Cowboys are coming to grips with the absence of quarterback Tony Romo for as many as five weeks comes word that a veteran quarterback could be on the market.

Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com speculates that the Lions could be shopping quarterback Jon Kitna, and that Kitna could be traded to the 49ers or the Cowboys.

G.M. Martin Mayhew said on Monday that the Lions are engaged in exploratory trade talks regarding “a handful” of players.  Kitna said on Monday that he doesn’t believe that the back injury that kept him out of Sunday’s loss to the Vikings is serious, and that he should be able to play in a week or two.

Kitna is signed through 2009.  His current salary is $2.95 million.  Next year, it drops to $1.95 million.

He didn’t travel to Minnesota for Sunday’s game, which raised some eyebrows regarding his overall status within the organization.

In San Fran, Kitna would be reunited with former Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz.  Current 49ers starter J.T. O’Sullivan was solid through the first three weeks of the season.  In each of the last three weeks, his passer rating has dropped below 60.0.  O’Sullivan had his worst performance of the season on Sunday against the Eagles, generating a 49.2 passer rating.