Alright, when we said that the Dallas Cowboys weren't done juggling their roster, we didn't think this would happen. In what can only be described as a jaw-dropping move, Dallas has waived quarterback Joe Milton.
It's the corresponding move after they claimed running back Emari Demercado off waivers.
Why the Cowboys opted to let Milton go when he still has two years left on his rookie deal and finally showed signs of development is the part everyone is struggling to understand.
Is there more than what meets the eye? Is this another case of roster manipulation? And if Dallas has washed its hands of Milton, how on earth did they not manage to trade him with backup quarterback play at a premium around the NFL?
Whatever the case, this confirms that Sam Howell will be Dak Prescott's backup for the 2026 season. Milton will be eligible for the practice squad if he clears waivers.
The Dallas Cowboys shockingly waive QB Joe Milton after excellent summer
Last preseason, watching Milton try to run the offense was a hair-pulling experience. Between his poor footwork, taking too long to work through his progressions, and struggling to know when to put touch on his passes, Milton was lucky to be the QB2 in 2025.
It'd be one thing if Milton hadn't evolved this summer, but he did. In leaps and bounds.
Among QBs who attempted at least 40 passes in the preseason, Milton's 76.6 passing grade was the fourth-highest, per Pro Football Focus. He completed 29 of 43 passes (67.4 percent) for 378 yards and three touchdowns to zero interceptions, to go with three big-time throws and zero turnover-worthy plays. One more time: Zero turnover-worthy plays.
Milton looked more comfortable operating from the pocket and showed a better feel for pressure, stepping up when the pocket collapsed rather than immediately bailing outside. He also worked through his progressions with more conviction, and there was noticeably more nuance to his throws.
It really looked like the game had slowed down for him. Nothing adds up here.
Might Joe Milton have asked for his release from the Cowboys?
It's possible Milton requested his release after being informed that Howell would be the backup.
If the Cowboys trust Howell more to start in the event Prescott misses time, it's understandable that Milton would want to find a more realistic path to playing time elsewhere. But how many teams can actually offer him that opportunity? Not many.
Maybe the collective freak-out amounts to nothing, and Milton is back on the practice squad on Tuesday after he clears waivers. But between Milton and Howell, the latter would have been far more likely to pass through waivers. It stands to reason there's another team willing to bet on Milton's tools.
Still just 26 years old, Milton had finally shown glimpses that he could be Prescott's eventual successor. Why risk losing that? Howell may help you win games this season, but he doesn't have the same long-term upside. Not even close.
The Cowboys spent the last year and a half developing Milton, finally started to see a return on that investment, and then walked away just as things were getting interesting.
It's inexplicable.
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