Dallas pulled a shocker yesterday, waiving quarterback Joe Milton III and officially handing the QB2 spot to Sam Howell. This wasn’t just a routine roster move; it went down a day after the team had set its initial 53-man roster, making the word “initial” suddenly a whole lot more important. The Cowboys obviously saw something they just had to have, and it cost a quarterback who seemed pretty secure just last week.
The Backup QB Battle Ends With a Jolt
For weeks, it felt like Joe Milton III was on the cusp of locking down that backup quarterback spot. He seemed to be closing in on “lock status” heading into the final preseason game against New Orleans. But then Friday’s exhibition loss happened, and Sam Howell played his way right onto the squad, outplaying Milton and throwing the whole competition up in the air again. As expected, Dallas kept both Howell and Milton III on their initial 53-man roster. Everyone thought the QB room was settled, right? Wrong.
Then Monday hit. Dallas made a move, claiming Kansas City Chiefs running back Emari Demercado off waivers. To make room for him, they had to cut someone, and that someone was Joe Milton III. Just like that, the QB2 job went straight to Sam Howell, making him Dak Prescott’s direct backup. It’s a brutal business, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Dallas does have 14 of their 16 practice squad spots filled, so there’s a chance Milton could land one of those if he clears waivers, but it’s a huge step down from QB2.
Running Back Room Gets a Full Shake-Up Too
The surprises didn’t stop at quarterback. The running back room saw its own share of drama on Sunday’s cut day. Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, both drafted last year, were waived and didn’t even make it onto the practice squad. Instead, Dallas snatched up Emari Demercado from the Chiefs, while the Philadelphia Eagles were quick to pick up Blue.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer explained the decision to bring in Demercado, highlighting a familiarity factor. “Emari is a guy that Klayton has some exposure to,” Schottenheimer told DallasCowboys.com, referencing offensive coordinator Klayton Adams. He called Demercado “a good veteran that plays special teams,” adding, “there’s a lot of things that we like about him.” As for keeping Malik Davis as the backup tailback behind Javonte Williams, Schottenheimer said it was a testament to Davis’s “excellence through the preseason” and how he’s “proven his worth.” He said it showed Davis’s value in “competing every day and adding value.”
This kind of roster shuffling tells you Dallas isn’t messing around with “initial” lists. They’re ready to make bold moves for depth and special teams value, even if it means cutting players who seemed secure. It’s a clear signal from the front office and coaching staff about what they prioritize as the season gets rolling.
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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