Joe Milton III Torches Cardinals Defense, Seizes Control of Cowboys Backup QB Race

Joe Milton III made his loudest statement yet in the Dallas Cowboys’ backup quarterback competition on Saturday night, torching the Arizona Cardinals for 179 yards and two touchdowns through the air while adding a rushing score in a 34-13 preseason win. The performance, punctuated by a highlight-reel 53-yard touchdown strike to Jonathan Mingo, pushed Milton to the front of the race to become Dak Prescott’s primary backup in year two with the Cowboys.

Milton, a third-year pro out of Tennessee, joined Dallas in a 2025 trade from the New England Patriots and spent his rookie season with the Cowboys as Prescott’s clear-cut No. 2, appearing in four games and completing 15 of 24 passes for 183 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. This offseason, the Cowboys signed veteran Sam Howell in free agency, setting up an open competition for the backup job that head coach Brian Schottenheimer has called a “fun competition,” with both quarterbacks getting equal reps throughout camp.

A Statement Performance in Glendale

Playing in place of Prescott, who has not appeared in a preseason game since 2019, Milton went 9-of-13 passing for 179 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions at State Farm Stadium. His signature play came when he found Mingo streaking down the left sideline for a perfectly placed 53-yard touchdown pass, the first career score for the former Ole Miss and Carolina Panthers wide receiver. Milton also connected with running back Malik Davis on an 8-yard touchdown pass after Dallas forced a short-field turnover, and he capped his night by punching in a 1-yard rushing touchdown. He sat down for the second half after directing the offense to 34 points in a little over one half of work.

Across his last two preseason outings, Milton has completed 21 of 28 passes for 286 yards and three passing touchdowns without an interception, adding a rushing score as well. The tape has drawn attention from fans and analysts alike, with the performance against Arizona helping fuel comparisons to a “monster-armed” passer finally putting together consistent, mistake-free football behind Dallas’ starter.

Milton Pulls Ahead of Howell in the Backup Race

The timing of Milton’s outburst matters. Howell, who signed with Dallas in free agency after starting 18 games for the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks, struggled in the same game against Arizona, completing 7 of 10 passes for just 65 yards with an interception. Howell still holds a clear experience edge over Milton, having thrown for 4,139 career yards and 22 touchdowns compared to 23 interceptions across his four NFL seasons, but Schottenheimer and the Cowboys’ coaching staff have stressed that the competition will be decided using all three preseason games rather than a single performance.

Schottenheimer said earlier in camp that Milton and Howell would receive equal reps with the second-team offense until a decision is made, calling the battle “highly competitive” and praising both quarterbacks for pushing each other. Milton’s added mobility and the strong arm talent that made him a draft intrigue coming out of Tennessee give him a different skill set than Howell, and his familiarity with Schottenheimer’s system after a full year in Dallas appears to be paying dividends heading into his second preseason under the same offense.

What It Means for the Cowboys Heading Into the Season

Prescott remains firmly entrenched as the starter and has not taken a preseason snap since 2019, meaning the QB2 battle carries outsized weight for a Dallas team that has dealt with costly injuries at the position in recent years. A capable, mistake-free backup gives the Cowboys insurance they lacked in previous seasons, and Milton’s two-game stretch of 21-of-28 passing for 286 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions is exactly the kind of efficient, high-upside sample the coaching staff wants to see before trusting a backup with meaningful snaps.

With one more preseason game remaining before final roster cuts, Milton has put real pressure on the Cowboys to make him Prescott’s primary backup for a second straight season. Bettors tracking Dallas’ outlook for the year can find the latest lines and coverage in Bettors Insider’s sportsbook reviews hub, along with current promotions through the DraftKings promo code and FanDuel promo code pages ahead of the regular season. If Milton keeps performing at this level, Dallas may have found a long-term answer at QB2 heading into a pivotal year for the franchise.