The Cowboys’ preseason finale arrives with more than just one job still up for grabs. Friday night in Dallas is shaping up as the last big sorting session before roster decisions are made, and the backup quarterback battle is right at the center of it.
That conversation has plenty of weight because Brian Schottenheimer is looking for a reliable No. 2 behind Dak Prescott the same way Cooper Rush filled in when Prescott missed multiple games in 2022 and helped Dallas go 4-1. This time, Schottenheimer believes either Joe Milton or Sam Howell could be that emergency answer.
“I do,” Schottenheimer said on Monday. “Yeah, I really do, and I think it’s a great competition … Joe’s performed beautifully in both games, and you can’t look at the numbers and not know that, but just watch him play … But Sam’s made a lot of plays too. Sam had a beautiful two-minute drive against Seattle.”
Milton, in particular, has made a strong impression in preseason action. Going into the final week, it’s fair to say both Milton III and Howell have done enough to make the backup job a real debate.
Quarterback isn’t the only place Dallas is still sorting things out. The backfield picture beyond the starter remains unsettled, even with Javonte Williams installed as RB1. Malik Davis appears to have done enough to hang around, but Jayden Blue helped himself in Arizona, Phil Mafah turned his only carry into a touchdown, and Schottenheimer has said Israel Abanikanda will stay in the mix as well.
There’s also a roster angle tied to the defensive front after the Cowboys added Von Miller. Will McClay said Miller can still bring pressure and still matter as a leader, especially for a young group that can learn from someone who has done it at a high level.
“He can still get after the passer. When you have a bunch of rushers, the offense has to figure out what you’re doing, how you’re doing it.
I think (new defensive coordinator Christian Parker) will use that very well. But also the leadership.
We have young players that they’re learning from coaching, but they also learn better from guys that they’ve done it at a high level. They’re probably more willing to listen to that.
And he’s the right kind of guy to pour into a guy like Malachi (Lawrence) and some of the young guys we have. But he can still play.
And he’ll contribute to the pass rush.”
The arrival of Miller could force one of the current edge rushers out of the mix, and that’s where the final roster puzzle gets even trickier. One view is that James Houston’s pass-rush skill keeps him safe. Another is that Dallas may lean toward keeping Marist Liufau over Williams because of special teams value.
So while the quarterback fight gets most of the attention, the Cowboys still have several other decisions looming. Friday’s preseason game should help clarify who stays, who goes, and which names still have a path onto the 53-man roster.
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Cowboys Just Got An Early Opening Against Washington
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Nicki Jhabvala has described the group as severely struggling, saying it is the worst he has seen in years, even after the Commanders added D.J. Humphries to help steady the edge. For Dallas, it is the kind of opening that can shape a matchup long before the teams take the field, because anything that keeps Washingtons front in flux gives the Cowboys a better chance to pressure the pocket and force the issue. [Read more 🡒]