The Dallas Cowboys still don’t have a clear answer at backup quarterback, and Saturday night in Seattle did nothing to separate Sam Howell from Joe Milton.
That’s not because either player stumbled. It’s because both handled the moment well and finished with almost the same kind of line. If the plan is to let the preseason sort out QB2, then the opener against the Seahawks looked a lot like a dead heat.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said last Thursday that the " bulk of the evaluation" of Howell and Milton would come from the preseason, and that approach makes sense. These games are closer to real football than practice, even if they still come with the usual preseason caveat: some quarterbacks shine here and fade once the games count.
For Dallas, the goal is simpler than that. Both Howell and Milton have enough time in the league to handle the basics, so the real question is who can run the offense cleanly and deal with a defense that isn’t scripted and familiar.
Howell got the first half, Milton the second. Last week, Dallas’ unofficial depth chart listed Milton first, so Howell drawing the start in Seattle looked more like a balancing act than a declaration of a new leader in the race.
And if Howell may have been slightly ahead coming in - there was already chatter that he had been edging Milton in camp - Saturday may have brought Milton right back alongside him.
The numbers were almost mirror images. Howell finished 8 of 12 for 94 yards, one touchdown and a 118.1 passer rating. Milton went 12 of 15 for 107 yards, one touchdown and a 118.6 rating.
Neither quarterback gave the ball away, and neither looked reckless. There were no interceptions, and both seemed to make sensible decisions about when to throw and where to put it. They looked settled in the offense, which matters as much as anything at this stage.
Even on the ground, there wasn’t much to split them. Howell totaled 15 yards on two carries, while Milton had 10 yards on seven carries.
Howell’s 10-yard scramble accounted for the difference, and Milton was working behind the third-string offensive line. That part of the competition doesn’t tell you much beyond this: both players showed they can move.
The game situations didn’t really help either. Howell and the offense started slowly, then put together a 65-yard touchdown drive just before halftime to take the lead. Milton followed with an 84-yard touchdown march to extend it, then went quieter after that.
If there was one slight edge, it probably went to Howell for handling the two-minute work and finishing the half with a score.
There are still two more chances to make a case, with the next one coming Saturday in Arizona and the final one the following Friday night against New Orleans. As the opportunities shrink, the pressure rises. The question now is whether either quarterback starts to show cracks once the competition tightens.
Milton deserves credit for more than just the box score. This was his job last year, but once Dallas brought in Howell, he had to defend it. Against Seattle, he did exactly that - fought for it without losing his composure.
That’s the kind of trait a backup quarterback needs. You have to be ready to play, but you can’t let the job hunt wreck your decision-making.
So far, it’s been a strong summer for both quarterbacks, and this first preseason game only backed that up. The competition is still wide open, and that’s because both Howell and Milton are playing well.
With Dak Prescott now 33, the importance of the backup spot only grows. When this battle is over, Dallas will want to feel good about the next man up.
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