A day after setting their initial 53-man roster, the Dallas Cowboys showed why the word “initial” has to be in there.
In a stunning move, Dallas waived Joe Milton, who just a week ago seemed to be nearing lock status as QB2 to make room for a running back claimed off waivers. All of that hands the backup quarterback spot to Sam Howell, who played his way onto the squad in Friday’s exhibition loss to New Orleans.
The Cowboys still have two spots on their practice squad, so could Milton land one of those if he clears waivers? Let’s take a look at what Dallas is up to.
Joe Milton III waived
The Dallas Cowboys ongoing battle to be
the backup quarterback behind Dak Prescott ended in a most unexpected way: Joe Milton III was waived Monday.
Heading into the final preseason game against New Orleans, Milton III seemed to be closing in on lock status for QB2, but he was outplayed by Sam Howell, which seemed to put the competition back up in the air. As expected, Dallas kept both Howell and Milton III on their initial 53-man roster, but then on Monday, Dallas picked up Kansas City Chiefs running back Emari Demercado off waivers.
Milton was the player waived to make room for him. That means Howell is now Prescott’s backup. Notably, Dallas has only filled 14 of their 16 practice squad spots and can’t add Milton to that list until/if he clears Waivers Tuesday afternoon.
Dallas Cowboys running backs
Among the surprises on Sunday’s cut day were running backs, with Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah waived and then apparently not added to the practice squad. Instead, Dallas claimed Kansas City Chiefs running back Emari Demercado off waivers while the Philadelphia Eagles picked up Blue.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer explained the decision to get Demercado, saying part of it is familiarity between offensive coordinator Klayton Adams and Demercado from their time together in Arizona.
”Emari is a guy that Klayton has some exposure to," Schottenheimer told DallasCowboys.com. "A good veteran that plays special teams, and there's a lot of things that we like about him. We're excited that we were awarded him in the claiming system, and as soon as I get done here, we'll go have some more conversations."
As for the decision to keep Malik Davis as the backup tailback behind Javonte Williams, and the decision to cut Blue and Mafah, who were drafted in the fifth and seventh rounds last year, Schottenheimer said it was because of Davis’ excellence through the preseason.
”When you talk about competing every day and adding value, and raising the level of competition, both those guys were drafted because we love those guys," Schottenheimer told DallasCowboys.com. "I think this is more a testament to a guy like Malik Davis that has just, time in and time out, come back and proven his worth. And the way he's wired, I know both Jaydon and Phil should and will reach out to Malik, because now they're unfortunately in a situation like (what Davis has experienced several times in the past).”
Dallas stocks practice squad
The Dallas Cowboys added 15 players to their practice squad, with the big surprises that running back Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah were not on it, as Israel Abanikanda was the running back Dallas brought back. Dallas still has one more spot on its practice squad, and it could potentially go to Joe Milton III, who has to clear waivers before Dallas could pick him up on Tuesday.
Here are the players signed to the practice squad.
- OT Wanya Morris (waived by Atlanta)
- LB Justin Barron
- RB Israel Abanikanda
- DT Tommy Dunn
- WR Jordan Hudson
- OT Marcellus Johnson
- CB Derion Kendrick
- WR Anthony Smith
- TE Michael Trigg
- Edge Isaiah Land
- OL Nick Leverett
- DT Dayo Oeleye (IPP)
- LB Curtis Robinson
- CB Reddy Steward
- DT Elijah Garcia
Dallas Cowboys opener
The Dallas Cowboys open their season on Sunday Night Football on Sept. 13 against the New York Giants. Kickoff is set for 6:20 p.m. MT/7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Shocking final cut. Dallas waives QB Joe Milton III, makes Howell QB2
