Sam Howell says he “did the best I could” in Dallas QB2 battle as Cowboys head to 53-man cutdown

Sam Howell is leaving the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback competition with the mindset that he did what he could to help his case. Speaking in the lead-up to the team’s next roster checkpoint, Howell characterized his effort as “the best I could,” framing the ongoing QB2 decision as something that is now largely out of his hands and in the Cowboys’ evaluation process.

The immediate backdrop is a familiar one for NFL rosters at this stage. Dallas is approaching its roster cutdown to 53 players on Sunday, a moment that forces teams to make hard choices across every position, including the most scrutinized one on the field. For a backup quarterback, the cutdown deadline is not just administrative. It typically determines who is available in the early regular-season stretch, who gets reps with the first units, and how much risk the team is willing to carry.

Howell’s comments underscore the reality of the situation for any quarterback trying to carve out a role behind the starter. In a competition, the quarterback doesn’t just have to show arm talent. The player must also demonstrate command of the offense, consistency in timing with receivers, and the ability to execute plays under pressure when the game situation is less forgiving than it is for starters. Howell’s decision to emphasize his effort reflects how he views the work that has been done so far, even as the final roster outcome remains uncertain.

The Cowboys’ QB2 battle is also worth noting because it is rarely evaluated on one specific practice or preseason snap. Coaches and decision-makers generally look at how a quarterback responds across multiple contexts: scripted drives, third-down situations, red-zone opportunities, and two-minute work. Even when statistics are imperfect, the internal evaluation often centers on decision-making speed, ball security, and whether the quarterback can move the offense forward in rhythm with the rest of the unit.

For Howell personally, the next step is straightforward but high-stakes. Dallas will soon narrow its roster, and the quarterback room will need to reflect not only who has performed best, but also how the Cowboys expect to manage the regular-season schedule. The backup quarterback role tends to expand quickly once the season starts, because injuries, game plans, and matchup-driven substitutions can all change who gets on the field.

A key caveat, given the timing and the nature of preseason coverage, is that an NFL backup quarterback decision can be influenced by factors beyond public-facing performance, including practice trends, protection and communication details, and how coaches grade each quarterback’s grasp of the offensive plan. Howell’s tone, focusing on what he controlled, fits a player who understands that the next evaluation step is approaching quickly.

What to watch next is what the Cowboys do when they trim to 53 on Sunday. That decision will clarify whether Dallas views Howell as part of the core backup group or whether the team’s plans for the regular season require a different combination at the position. For Howell, the coming days define the difference between being carried as a reliable option early in the season and being left to regroup for what comes next.