There are high expectations for this year’s Dallas Cowboys. Improvements on defense combined with what looks like another potent offensive group set the table for a fun season. However, all that fun can end quickly if Dak Prescott goes down. We’ve seen it happen multiple times in recent years, and it doesn’t feel good.
While a long-term absence for Prescott is a recipe for a losing season, the team can still absorb a short-term injury stint if they have a viable backup on the roster. We’ve seen them
do exactly that when Cooper Rush went 4-1 over a five-game stretch in 2022. A quality backup is important, especially with how much firepower they have on offense. They don’t want all that goodness to go to waste.
Enter Joe Milton III and Sam Howell, who have been battling it out for the team’s primary backup quarterback job. And it’s been quite the battle. They’ve gone back and forth, one-upping each other throughout the preseason. Howell started the first preseason game, but Milton jumped him after a strong performance and earned the start in the second game. He kept the momentum going with an even better performance last week, but on Friday night, he had some moments where he was off, opening the door for Howell. Sure enough, Howell responded with his best preseason performance. Suddenly, the backup QB battle got a whole lot more interesting.
Milton’s development has been encouraging. This is his third year, and his growth has pleased the coaching staff and fans alike. Last week against the Cardinals, his comfort level showed. He processed things quickly, his footwork was sharp, and he delivered beautifully thrown balls to his receivers. It was fantastic.
At certain moments against the Saints, he reverted to the previous version of Milton. He was skittish, his throws were off-balance, and he delivered those patented overthrown passes that we saw far too often last season. This small sample doesn’t undo what he’s accomplished this year, but it creates enough doubt to make one wonder if they should have a contingency to their contingency.
Howell’s solid play highlights this dilemma even more. When they have a third quarterback who shows he can command the offense and make good decisions, it’s hard to toss that aside. Would they dare risk exposing him to the waiver wire so a more QB-needy team could steal him?
On Friday night, Howell looked like a good backup quarterback. He stayed calm in the pocket, but evaded pressure when things collapsed around him. He made quick, well-placed throws to his receivers. And when he had a chance to make a big play, he did, erasing a 15-point deficit when it otherwise looked as if the offense wasn’t going to find the end zone in this game.
This third preseason game has thrown a wrench into the backup quarterback situation, assuming the team hasn’t already made their mind up. Maybe keeping three quarterbacks has always been their plan. It’s tough to say. What’s even tougher is making this decision if they are still undecided. The Cowboys have several roster battles in flux where they can use any extra spot available. Milton pulling away with the backup job made things simpler, but now it might be smarter to hedge their bet and keep both.
The most important factor is ensuring they have a quality backup, which it seems like they do. And that’s Milton. If they want extra security, they can choose to hang on to Howell as well. Injuries can change the landscape quickly, and holding on to good players in the most important position in football is never a bad idea. That means the Cowboys could enter the 2026 season carrying three quarterbacks, so prepare your final roster predictions accordingly.
