LOS ANGELES -- For the fourth straight year, Tony Romo and Jason Witten did not play in the Dallas Cowboys' preseason opener.
Without Romo, rookie Dak Prescott started at quarterback against the Los Angeles Rams.
Owner Jerry Jones said before the game that Dez Bryant would not play, but the star receiver was active and caught a first-quarter touchdown pass.
Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott missed the game because of a sore hamstring. He has not practiced since Aug. 2, but he has gone through some rehab work on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum field during pregame warm-ups.
Left tackle Tyron Smith also sat, but the rest of the starting offensive line was due to play.
Defensively, the Cowboys were without linebacker Sean Lee and cornerback Orlando Scandrick as they make their way back from knee surgeries.
Romo last played in the preseason opener in 2012 against the Oakland Raiders. Witten suffered a lacerated spleen in that game and missed the rest of the preseason.
The Cowboys have three more practices and a walkthrough scheduled for this week before they return to Texas on Thursday.