"Cowboys backup quarterback Jon Kitna has informed club officials that he intends to retire.

The 39-year-old Kitna, who has been Tony Romo's backup the last three seasons, was placed on injured reserve Dec. 14 because of a lingering back injury. He had been inactive for the previous four games with the back injury before being placed on injured reserve.

When approached late in the season about the status of his injury and what it would mean to his career, Kitna politely declined to comment.

Kitna retiring leaves a roster position open at quarterback for the Cowboys. Third-string quarterback Stephen McGee served as the team's backup when Kitna was sidelined because of his back injury. McGee will be entering the last year of his contract in 2012. The Cowboys will have to decide between letting McGee back up Romo next season or perhaps adding a veteran free agent who could handle the job. The Cowboys also could use April's draft to select a quarterback to develop for the future."