Sam Howell may be getting his best shot yet to lock down the Cowboys’ backup quarterback job, and the timing is almost too neat. Dallas opens preseason Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, the team Howell once played for, and with Dak Prescott unlikely to see the field, Howell and Joe Milton should get their chances to make a statement.
That matters because Howell appears to have the edge right now in the battle to back up Prescott. But that edge doesn’t feel permanent. If Howell wants to stay in the mix - and keep earning a living in the league - he probably needs to show it against the very team that moved on from him.
The path that brought him here has been a strange one. Howell spent one season in Seattle after being traded there during the draft last year, then got dealt to the Minnesota Vikings before eventually landing with the Philadelphia Eagles.
This offseason, he signed with Dallas. At 25, he’s already been through a lot of NFL turbulence.
His resume is a mixed bag. In 2023, he started all 17 games for Washington, threw for 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, and made it clear he wasn’t going to be the long-term answer there. Seattle gave him another look, but that stay didn’t last either.
His lone appearance replacing Geno Smith in 2024 turned into a disaster. The Seahawks were already trailing the Minnesota Vikings when Howell entered, and he never found his footing.
He finished 5 of 14 for 24 yards with an interception and was sacked four times. That performance effectively closed the book in Seattle.
Now, though, he’s in position to be the next man up behind Prescott. The Athletic’s Jon Machota put it plainly: "Sam Howell, to me, is clearly ahead of Joe Milton right now. If (Dallas) had to play one game right now -- (if) they have to play two games, whatever -- Sam Howell is ahead of Joe Milton."
That “right now” caveat tells the whole story. Milton has more room to grow and more raw tools to work with, but Howell is the more established quarterback at this point.
He may not have much upside left, yet he’s more polished today. That kind of pecking order can change fast, and preseason games are exactly where it happens.
Seattle still has plenty of familiar faces from Howell’s time there, even with some roster turnover since he left. Those former teammates won’t be looking to help him reclaim his career, but it’s not personal. They’re fighting for jobs too.
And that’s what makes this one worth watching. Most starters won’t play, but the backups will be chasing every snap they can get.
If Howell stumbles at Lumen Field, Milton could jump back into the QB2 spot. If Howell shines, he could make a real case to keep that job.
In Other News...
Jamal Adams Vikings Debut Took A Turn Seahawks Fans Know Too Well
Jamal Adams first preseason appearance for the Minnesota Vikings did not last long, and it brought an unwelcome reminder of the physical toll that has followed him in recent years. The former Seahawks safety, now trying to carve out his next chapter in Minnesota, left the field after a right knee injury and was taken away on a cart, cutting short what should have been a routine debut.
Adams was ruled out for the rest of the game, and the early reporting around the injury did little to calm concerns about the severity. For Seattle fans who watched his tenure end amid a long injury saga, it was the kind of sight that felt all too familiar, especially for a player who has bounced between teams since leaving the Seahawks. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Wont Get The Seahawks Look They Expected In This One
Jadarian Price was around the Seahawks during walkthroughs this week, but he is not expected to suit up against the Cowboys in the preseason matchup. Seattles first-round pick is dealing with upper leg soreness, leaving the team to shuffle its backfield plan as it continues sorting out the rotation before the games start counting.
Mike Macdonald confirmed Prices absence, which means the Seahawks will turn to other backs for this one, including Velus Jones Jr., Jacardia Wright, TJ Harden and Justin Jones. For a team still taking stock of its depth chart, it is another chance for those players to handle more of the load while Seattle eases its top draft choice along. [Read more 🡒]
Sam Darnold Just Gave Seahawks Fans A Real Reason To Believe
Sam Darnolds first season with Seattle already has the kind of national attention that can change the temperature around a quarterback room. The Seahawks new starter checked in at No. 21 on the NFL Top 100, a jump of 51 spots from the year before, and it came with a pretty clear sign that peers noticed what he did in 2025. He finished fifth in passing yards and DVOA, tied for ninth in touchdown passes and fourth in game-winning drives, which is the sort of production that turns a respectable signing into something more meaningful.
What stands out for Seattle is not just the ranking, but who was willing to speak up for him. Several defenders around the league, including Byron Murphy II, Grey Zabel and Derek Stingley, praised Darnolds performance and resilience, reinforcing the idea that his season was built on more than raw numbers. The Seahawks have spent plenty of time searching for steady quarterback play, and Darnolds rise has at least given them a real foundation to believe in while the rest of the league starts taking him seriously. [Read more 🡒]