THE APEX TIMES
Cowboys reportedly set to place QB Joe Milton on waivers after QB2 competition
Dallas is expected to waive Joe Milton, leaving Sam Howell as the primary backup behind Dak Prescott, according to Pro Football Rumors on Monday.
The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly preparing to waive quarterback Joe Milton, a move that effectively closes a prolonged internal battle for the team’s QB2 role. Pro Football Rumors reported that the Cowboys will send Milton to waivers on Monday, citing ESPN’s Adam Schefter as part of the reporting trail.
Milton arrived in Dallas as a strong-armed option and spent a stretch of camp competing for the backup spot behind Dak Prescott. According to Pro Football Rumors, a monthslong competition between Milton and Sam Howell determined the Cowboys’ depth-chart direction.
The decision also indicates a front-office preference for the quarterback profile the team believes gives them the cleanest next step behind Prescott. With Howell now positioned as Prescott’s backup, the Cowboys are trying to keep offensive continuity at the second-string level while navigating the realities of an NFL season where late-game and injury scenarios can quickly force game-week changes.
For Milton, a waiver destination becomes the next immediate question. If a team claims him, Dallas would have to adjust its depth plans around Prescott and Howell, while the claimed quarterback would have a fresh chance elsewhere to earn a role. If he clears waivers, Milton would fall into the team-building options the league allows for unclaimed players.
The Cowboys’ quarterback depth choices come with roster-management constraints beyond the QB room itself. Waiving Milton reduces one quarterback commitment on the active roster or within the team’s immediate claim window and can free a roster spot for another position group.
Dallas has not issued an official transaction confirmation in the material available for this report, so the waiver timing and roster impacts should be treated as pending until the league’s transaction wire reflects the move.
What to watch next is whether Milton is claimed quickly, and how Dallas structures its remaining quarterback depth plan around Howell. Even if Howell is set as QB2, preseason-to-regular-season quarterback usage patterns, practice reps, and depth-chart communication will be the clearest indicators of how the Cowboys intend to handle the position if Prescott misses time.
Why It Matters
- This is a meaningful turning point in the Cowboys’ quarterback room, resolving the QB2 competition in a way that clarifies Dallas’ immediate depth plan behind Dak Prescott.
- Waiving Milton affects roster flexibility for the Cowboys, since the team no longer needs to carry the same quarterback commitment while building the rest of its depth.
- If Milton is claimed, Dallas could face an unexpected change in how quickly it must re-staff its quarterback depth option.
- For Milton, waivers can determine whether his next opportunity comes via another team’s claim or by clearing and re-entering the market for roster spots.
Key Facts
- Pro Football Rumors reported the Cowboys will waive QB Joe Milton on Monday.
- The report frames Milton as having been competing for the QB2 job behind Dak Prescott.
- The same report states Sam Howell is in place as Prescott’s backup.
- Pro Football Rumors cited ESPN’s Adam Schefter as part of the waiver reporting.
- The move would send Milton through the waiver process, making a claim a possibility for other teams.