Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is absolutely hyped about quarterback Joe Milton’s growth, especially after Milton threw for 107 yards and a touchdown on 12-of-15 passing against *our* Seahawks in preseason this year. Schottenheimer told reporters Monday that Milton has grown tremendously ahead of the 2026 campaign, and he is not holding back on what that means.
More Than Just an Arm Cannon
Remember when Joe Milton was drafted back in 2024? Everyone was talking about that cannon arm, right? Like it was the only thing he had going for him. Well, Schottenheimer just shut that talk down hard, telling reporters Milton is way more than that now. He was blunt, saying, “I first remember hearing about Joe Milton when he was at the University of Michigan and everyone applauded him for how hard and how far he could throw the ball. Cool. That’s awesome. Go be in a carnival somewhere. That’s not what playing an NFL quarterback is.” Talk about a mic drop!
Schottenheimer continued, explaining that NFL QBs are about “throwing through small windows, you’re throwing over people, you’re changing arm slots.” He even added, “arm strength is cool. Go to the fair and win a teddy bear.” But the big takeaway? Milton is “playing quarterback at a high level.” He is checking the ball down, making blitz adjustments, solving problems, and reading from his first, second, third, and even fourth progressions. This isn’t just raw talent anymore; this is a QB putting in the work, learning the game.
Playing Quarterback at a High Level
Milton’s journey hasn’t been overnight. During his time at Tennessee, he showed flashes, sure, but often leaned on that big arm and athleticism instead of making crucial in-game adjustments and going through his reads. But it’s clear things are clicking now. We saw it when he was slicing up the Seahawks’ defense with those 107 yards and a score, hitting 12 of his 15 passes. And he followed that up with an even bigger day against the Cardinals, tossing for 179 yards and two touchdowns on 9-of-13 passing. Those are some serious numbers for preseason ball!
Schottenheimer is “really, really proud of him,” saying quarterbacks “don’t stop learning” and the “only way to do it is to play.” This guy isn’t just an insurance policy; he is becoming a legitimate backup option, and Schottenheimer has plenty of faith in him.
If everything goes perfectly for the Cowboys, Dak Prescott will stay healthy all year, and Milton might not see the field much in the 2026 campaign. But knowing that their backup has the faith of his head coach, and has shown he can “play quarterback” at a high level, is a massive win for them. For us 12s, it just shows that even in preseason, we are seeing some serious talent on the other side of the ball. It is an important reminder of the competition our Hawks will face, and how critical every rep is as we get ready for kickoff.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply