Joe Milton lights up two preseason starts, but Cowboys backup QB battle still hinges on more than the highlight throws

The Dallas Cowboys entered the preseason focused on continuity behind Dak Prescott, but the backup quarterback battle has started to take on a clearer storyline, thanks to Joe Milton III’s strong play in two games. Milton, working in the second unit’s quarterback role, posted back-to-back statistical performances that have forced the competition to stay on the field rather than the practice room alone.

In Dallas’ most recent work, Milton delivered a sharp outing against the Arizona Cardinals, completing 9 of 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Earlier in the preseason, he also showed steady efficiency in an opener against the Seattle Seahawks, going 12 of 15 for 107 yards and a score. The numbers matter for a backup because they help distinguish a passer who is simply making a few splash plays from one who can produce consistent drives against game-speed coverage.

Beyond the raw stat line, CBS Sports noted that Milton has been among the preseason’s most efficient quarterbacks based on TruMedia’s version of expected points added (EPA) per play. That kind of measurement is meant to capture overall quality of decision-making and throw execution, not just yards and touchdowns, and it gives the Milton case a statistical backbone as Dallas evaluates who can reliably manage the offense when Prescott is not on the field.

Still, the competition does not appear to be decided. The Cowboys’ backup situation includes at least one other major contender, Sam Howell, who has been part of the same conversation for Dallas reps behind Prescott. The unresolved nature of the job is the point of preseason, because each quarterback’s value is tested not only by productivity, but also by how the offense looks when the game pace, field position, and defensive scheming shift from series to series.

For the Cowboys, this is a familiar organizational challenge. A strong backup is not simply an insurance policy against injury. It is also a stabilizing factor for the team’s third-phase rhythm, where play calling, protections, and timing have to stay coherent even if the personnel group changes. If Milton’s preseason script continues to translate into efficient decision-making, Dallas may find that the “backup” label starts to blur into a more meaningful role in the team’s weekly depth evaluation.

The bigger caveat is that two preseason games, even with impressive efficiency, do not settle an NFL quarterback competition by themselves. Preseason opponents can differ in how they deploy pass rushers and coverage looks, and backups often play under a narrower set of game plans than starters. What will matter next is whether Milton can repeat the efficiency across a longer sample, continue to protect the ball at a high level, and convert opportunities into sustained drives when the defense adjusts.

The immediate takeaway is that Milton has put pressure on the depth chart with concrete performance, including a touchdown-filled, efficient outing versus Arizona after a similar productive start against Seattle. As the preseason moves closer to its final stretch, Dallas will look for the next step from Milton, and also whether Howell can answer with his own consistent statistical body of work. That follow-up is likely to determine whether the Cowboys’ backup role tightens into a pecking order or stays a genuine open competition heading into the regular season.