Cowboys reportedly release backup QB Joe Milton, setting up a different support role behind Dak Prescott

The Dallas Cowboys reportedly made a backup quarterback change on Monday by releasing Joe Milton, according to FOX Sports. The move shifts the quarterback depth chart behind Dak Prescott, with Dallas expected to install a different option as the primary relief and practice-game quarterback for the 2026 season.

Milton’s departure matters less for the Cowboys’ immediate starter picture than for how the team manages continuity during the regular season. Even when a franchise quarterback is expected to remain the starter, backup readiness affects preparation rhythms, third-string reps, and the quality of work during the stretches where starters sit in preseason and early-season workload management.

From a roster-building standpoint, the Cowboys’ reported release suggests the organization was not satisfied with the current internal fit for the job Milton held. Backup quarterbacks are often judged on more than raw passing ability, including decision-making under pressure in game-week preparations, timing of throws in limited scripted work, and chemistry with the first-team and scout-team groupings. When a team moves on from an incumbent backup, it indicates a preference for a different skill set or development path.

Prescott’s presence keeps the spotlight on the Cowboys’ offense, but it also frames what backup quarterback stability typically means in the NFL. Dallas will now need to identify a new presence behind Prescott, either through offseason additions, the existing depth chart, or a later-stage promotion from within. The outcome will likely be visible in how the team distributes reps in preseason and in how quickly the replacement quarterback can run the offense in spot situations.

This is also a practical issue for a team’s weekly game plan. A backup quarterback becomes the quarterback-in-waiting for snap counts, two-minute sequences in lopsided scenarios, and any emergency scenario that forces the offense into a quicker adaptation window. The quicker that transition happens, the less it compromises the unit’s timing with receivers and the overall execution of scripted plays.

The report leaves open the broader details that would make the decision fully measurable, including who will immediately take Milton’s place and what the Cowboys’ exact plan is for remaining quarterback depth. What to watch next is how Dallas addresses the depth chart, whether a new backup is named quickly, and how the team’s quarterback rotation evolves as the 2026 season approaches.