Joe Milton found himself out of a job on Monday after the Cowboys waived him in a move that definitely raised some eyebrows. Dallas needed a roster spot, plain and simple. They had claimed running back Emari Demercado, and that meant someone had to go. Milton was temporarily out of work, with the Cowboys officially naming Sam Howell as their backup to Dak Prescott.
The “He’s Out, But He’s In” Dilemma
Here’s where it gets wild though. Less than 24 hours later, the Cowboys’ brass was already talking about wanting Milton back. Like, *really* wanting him back. On Tuesday, both Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer and executive vice president Stephen Jones were saying they hoped to sign Milton back to the practice squad. They see him as their third quarterback, a crucial role. If Milton doesn’t come back, they’d have to find someone else to fill that spot, and who wants to do that after the preseason he just had?
Why This Makes You Scratch Your Head
Stephen Jones didn’t mince words on All DLLS Cowboys about the whole situation. He admitted, “Joe obviously played really good in the preseason games. We really liked his performance. Sam did as well.” So, it wasn’t a performance issue, not entirely anyway. Jones explained that after looking at the “full body of work” from training camp and practices against other teams, the coaches picked Sam Howell as the No. 2 guy, “albeit really close.” The roster crunch is real, especially with a new defense adding “a lot of stress” and making it tough to carry more than two quarterbacks on the active roster. Jones was clear: “We’d love to have Joe back.” He even mentioned how “a lot of teams in this league figure out ways to carry three and four” QBs. So, Dallas *wants* him, but they also *cut* him. It’s a classic head-scratcher.
What’s Next for Milton and Dallas
Right now, the ball’s in Joe Milton’s court, kinda. The Cowboys are waiting to see if he clears waivers. If he does, they’re “in talks with Joe” to get him back on that practice squad. If another team swoops in, Dallas is suddenly scrambling for a third quarterback just as the regular season gets going. This isn’t just about one player; it’s about depth at the most important position, and how flexible a team can be with their roster management. What happens next could set the tone for their QB room for the rest of the season, and everyone’s watching to see if Milton clears.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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