Relative to preseason expectations, the Dallas Cowboys have been one of the NFL's most disappointing teams. Not only are they 3-5, but they've suffered multiple unforgivable defeats, most recently blowing a two-touchdown fourth-quarter lead to the lowly Cardinals.
It's the Cowboys. It can always get worse. And that could happen regardless of how Sunday's game against the Colts unfolds.
The Eagles have reportedly named Joe Milton their starting quarterback for Week 9, per NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Mike Garafolo. That puts Milton on track to face the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, which would make for must-see television.
But Dallas might not have to wait that long to regret letting him walk. A strong performance against the Giants could add another layer of embarrassment to what is quickly becoming one of the most miserable Cowboys seasons in recent memory.
The Cowboys will soon learn if exposing Joe Milton on the practice squad was a mistake
A QB change in Philadelphia: the Eagles are naming Joe Milton their starting QB and benching Tanner McKee for Sunday’s game vs. the Giants, per @mikegarafolo and me. pic.twitter.com/kVkMqLmUb4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 4, 2026
The Eagles signed Milton from the Cowboys' practice squad on October 16, after Jalen Hurts was placed on injured reserve due to blood clots.
Dallas surprised a lot of people when they named Sam Howell as the backup quarterback. By all accounts, Milton had a very strong summer in Oxnard, and he parlayed that by showing out in the preseason.
He completed 29 of 43 passes (67.4 percent) for 378 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. He was efficient despite averaging 8.8 yards per attempt and didn't log a single turnover-worthy play, per Pro Football Focus. Only the Bears' Tyson Bagent had a higher passer rating than Milton 118.2
Milton appeared to have done enough to win the QB2 job, even with Howell finishing August strong in his own right. It wasn't enough, though, which suggests that Milton didn't show enough in practice to earn the coaching staff's trust.
After all, what happens behind closed doors arguably carries more weight than preseason performances against backups and vanilla defenses.
Still, you'd have been hard-pressed to find a 53-man roster projection that didn't have Dallas keeping three quarterbacks. The Cowboys seemingly dodged a bullet when Milton went unclaimed on waivers, but keeping him on the practice squad always felt like a gamble given his physical tools and upside.
Joe Milton could secure a long-term future with the Eagles
Injuries may have forced the coaching staff's hand, but they were taking a risk by leaving him exposed to the rest of the league. Granted, it took a month and a half for another team to come calling, but that doesn't mean Dallas was right to take the chance, even if they're ultimately more confident in Howell having to run the offense if Dak Prescott were to miss time.
The timing just felt odd. This was only Year 2 of the Milton experiment. The Cowboys (hopefully) made the trade knowing he was a developmental project who would need time to grow. And while he remains a work in progress, he undoubtedly made strides from his first year in Dallas.
That made the decision to leave him on the practice squad all the more puzzling. Dallas wasn't giving up on Milton, but it was leaving the door wide open for another team to capitalize on the time and resources the franchise had invested in his development.
Milton could absolutely play himself into an extension with the Eagles. He could also fall on his face and lose the starting job before December.
If he plays well, though, it would add another black eye to a Cowboys season that's been defined by poor coaching, questionable personnel decisions, and embarrassing losses.
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