Joe Milton III absolutely lit up the Arizona Cardinals in Dallas’ preseason game on August 22, guiding the Cowboys to a commanding 24-6 halftime lead and accounting for every single one of their three touchdowns. Yeah, you read that right. Starting quarterback Dak Prescott wasn’t even in the lineup. Instead, head coach Brian Schottenheimer gave the nod to Milton, and this third-year pro out of Tennessee didn’t just make the most of the opportunity, he absolutely shined in those opening 30 minutes. What a performance!
Milton III Torched Arizona’s Defense
This dude came to play, seriously. Milton wasted no time putting points on the board, delivering two absolute dimes for passing touchdowns. One of them was a straight-up, ridiculous 53-yard bomb to Jonathan Mingo that immediately pushed Dallas up to a 14-0 lead. Talk about going DEEEEEEP! But he wasn’t content just slinging it. Milton showed off his athleticism too, calling his own number on a classic quarterback draw and rushing in for a two-yard score. Think about it: a dominant 24-6 lead at halftime, with all three of the team’s scores coming directly from Milton’s incredible hands and feet. That’s not just a good half for a backup, that’s a flat-out statement in preseason action.
Numbers That Make You Double Take
And the stats? Oh man, these numbers are legit, no joke. In that opening half against the Cardinals in the desert, Milton was surgical: 9 of 13 passing attempts completed, which is a sweet 69.2% completion rate. He racked up 179 passing yards and, get this, he threw two touchdowns while having ZERO interceptions. That’s efficiency, folks! His passer rating for the entire half? An absolutely stunning 151.4! We’re talking about near perfection here. Add to that his two rushing yards and that crucial rushing touchdown, and you’ve got a seriously complete performance. And guess what? Zero sacks taken. Those are the kind of numbers you hope for from your star starting QB, let alone a backup trying to make his mark in the preseason.
So, look, while Dak Prescott is clearly the guy at the top of the depth chart,and that’s where Milton will firmly remain unless an injury unfortunately forces the star out of action,Cowboys fans have to feel a massive weight lifted off their shoulders. Knowing you have a player like Milton III, a third-year pro, who can step in and deliver numbers like that, even in a preseason environment, means a whole lot. It tells you they’re feeling really, really good about that quarterback room in Dallas right now. You always want to see what your roster can do top to bottom in the preseason, and Dallas just found out they have a seriously capable backup in the wings. That’s a huge win for them heading into the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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