Joe Milton put together his best half of the preseason in the Dallas Cowboys’ 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, going 9-of-13 for 179 yards with two touchdown passes and a rushing score, all before halftime. It’s the kind of performance that keeps his case for the backup job behind Dak Prescott very much alive against Sam Howell.
The headline play was a 53-yard touchdown strike to Jonathan Mingo, who beat his coverage with a double move before Milton dropped the ball in stride down the sideline. Milton also connected with Camden Brown on a 70-yard completion that set up his own 1-yard touchdown run a play later, showing off both his arm and his mobility in the same drive.
Where the Backup Battle Stands
Cowboys coaches have said publicly that the competition between Milton and Howell for the QB2 role is still open, but performances like this one make Milton harder to leave off the field. His combination of arm strength and rushing ability gives Dallas a different look than a traditional pocket backup would, and it’s exactly the kind of preseason showing that shifts a coaching staff’s thinking even when they’re not ready to say so on the record.
What’s Next
The Cowboys have one more preseason game before final roster cuts, which will be the last real opportunity for both Milton and Howell to make their case with meaningful snaps. Whoever wins the job will be one injury away from the starting lineup all season, which raises the stakes on a competition that, on paper, is only about a clipboard job.
