Week 2 of the NFL preseason couldn’t have gone any better for the Dallas Cowboys. Despite resting nearly every starter and key backup, the “first” team offense and defense performed as well as you could have imagined.
Dallas scored 24 first-half points, while allowing just two field goals with Gardner Minshew at quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals.
But more than anything, the Cowboys looked much more polished on Saturday night, and several players who stood out in Week 1 were able to carry it over to Week 2. So without further ado, here are the biggest winners and losers from Dallas’ big performance against the Cardinals:
Biggest winners (and 1 loser) from Cowboys' preseason win vs. the Cardinals
Winner: Joe Milton - QB
Milton got the start in Week 2 after backing up Sam Howell in Week 1, as the two have been in a quarterback battle all camp. While we can’t say for sure that Milton won the job on Saturday, it sure feels like he is in pole position.
The numbers for Milton in the first half were mind-boggling, as he completed 9-of-13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran in a touchdown, but the more impressive stat is that he led four consecutive scoring drives before one final kneel-down before halftime.
Milton was calm, poised, and accurate, which are three words we wouldn’t have used to describe him at any point during the preseason last year. He’s been phenomenal in two preseason games so far, completing 21 of 28 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns.
Milton looks like a totally different player from what we saw last year and it would be a mild shock if he wasn’t Dak Prescott’s primary backup in 2026.
Winner: Jaishawn Barham - LB
The rookie linebacker from Michigan missed Week 1 of the preseason due to a groin injury, but he surely made up for it in Week 2. Barham played just 22 defensive snaps, but he made five tackles, three stops, and recorded a pressure.
It's also worth noting that he made another play on a screen pass, but he was unable to finish the tackle. Still, he made a big enough impact on the play for his teammates to clean up the missed tackle.
It remains to be seen what Barham’s role will be during the 2026 season, but he’s checked every single box so far in camp and now in the preseason. There is a level of physicality to his game that none of the other linebackers possess and that could earn him a spot on the starting defense sooner rather than later.
Winner: Malik Davis - RB
Jaydon Blue could also be in this section as he did outrush Davis, but it was the veteran running back who got the start and had a rock-solid performance.
Davis averaged 5.8 yards per carry and caught one of Milton’s touchdown passes, but that’s not why he’s on the list. He makes it because he went 3-for-3 on blitz pickups, which has been a knock on him in the past.
If the Cowboys can trust Davis in pass protection and we know how valuable he can be on special teams, it’s hard to see him not earning the RB2 job in Dallas. All Davis does is produce whenever he’s been given an opportunity, and he always plays hard.
At some point, he deserves more attention, and it sure seems like the Cowboys are leaning toward giving him the backup job behind Javonte Williams.
Loser: Drew Shelton - LT
If you were hoping that the move from right to left tackle would solve some of Drew Shelton’s issues, you are probably disappointed with his performance against the Cardinals. Not only did Shelton allow a few pressures, but they were quick losses that forced Milton out of the pocket.
The good news is that Shelton was significantly better as a run blocker in this game, and at least he can hang his hat on that. However, Saturday was another reminder of just how far away he is from being ready for regular-season action, if called upon.
The Cowboys would be wise to monitor the veteran tackle market over the next two weeks.
Winner: Jonathan Mingo - WR
There was a point in the offseason where it seemed like a lock that Jonathan Mingo wasn’t going to make the 53-man roster. Even last week, Camden Brown was the end-of-the-roster receiver earning the most praise. But Mingo has continued to stack good days, and he had another fantastic performance in the preseason.
Mingo caught a long ball from Milton and perfectly tracked it for a touchdown. It was a 53-yard touchdown where Mingo beat his defender off the line of scrimmage and was able to use his athleticism to create separation.
But that’s not the only reason why Mingo made this list.
He also got some work as a punt returner as he tries to find a spot on the roster. Mingo has only returned two punts ever in his football career (both in college), but he did a good job on Saturday tracking the ball in the air. That won’t be his role for this team, but he can serve as an emergency returner if needed.
Mingo is in a fight with Brown for the WR5 spot on the roster, and both players had outstanding performances in Week 2 of the preseason. But given the plays that Mingo has made on special teams, don’t be surprised if he’s currently in the lead for that job.
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