One of the more debated topics of the roster moves around the NFL over the past week was the Dallas Cowboys’ decision to waive backup quarterback Joe Milton III in favor of keeping Sam Howell on the 53-man roster to be the primary backup to Dak Prescott.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer explained that the decision to keep two quarterbacks was likely always going to be the case to preserve roster spots at other positions. While three quarterbacks made the initial 53-man roster, Milton was waived a day later to make room for running back Emari Demercado.
“These things move fast, and it was a very, very hard decision to make,” Schottenheimer said. “I had a great conversation with Joe, explained to him our thought process behind it. We looked at the whole body of work. We just felt like Sam had done a little bit more, just in terms of executing the offense in certain areas.”
The Cowboys risked Milton on the waiver wire, a move that even Prescott was concerned wouldn’t end with Milton finding his way back to Dallas. But after remaining open for any team to claim for 24 hours, Milton cleared waivers and signed back to Dallas’ practice squad Wednesday.
“I think we’ve shown that we know how to develop him,” Schottenheimer said.
In the hours leading up to cut-down day, the Cowboys shopped Milton on the trade market, according to a source. There was confidence at one point that a deal would get done, but nothing ended up materializing. Dallas was then left with the decision to risk him on waivers, but the decision to do it on Monday rather than Sunday ended up being the correct move to get him back in Dallas.
“We were debating it,” Schottenheimer said. “It was back and forth. Sam is a guy that just, at the end of the day, he’s got a great feel for what we’re trying to do, and the way he played against New Orleans was good and he bounced back. But this was a great battle between two great competitors that I’m giving compliments to both of them. They both wanted the job.
“At the end of the day, we just felt like making this decision now was in the best interest of our football team, giving us clarity.”
Both quarterbacks had similar performances in the preseason. They played one half in each of the three preseason games with Milton getting two starts and Howell earning one. Milton completed 29 of 43 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns along with a rushing score. Howell completed 27 of 40 passes for 314 yards, three touchdowns and one interception along with a rushing score.
With the performances in the team’s exhibition slate being close and neither separating themselves in training camp, the tie went to how Howell performed off the field.
“Sam has done an awesome job of learning the system. Both Dak and Joe were ahead of him when he got here because they were here last year,” Schottenheimer said. “His understanding and grasp of the playbook is really, really good, and he’s got great field vision. That’s one of the best things that jumps off the film is he understands where everybody is and how it affects spacing and things like that. That’s why he’s able to play pretty quick through progressions.”
Roster construction is usually done with head coach preference, and Schottenheimer now has two years of proof that carrying two quarterbacks is the preference. In 2025, Milton backed up Prescott while Will Grier sat on the practice squad. Now, it’ll be Milton who will have to earn a way onto the roster by sitting on the practice squad.
“I can’t remember the last time I’ve been a part of carrying three,” Schottenheimer said. “I know it does happen, but it’s a physical game, and when you’re in this thing for the long haul like we are, it does come into consideration, and it’s what you have to decide. And so, do you want an extra safety? Do you want an extra pass rusher? Do you want an extra receiver? Those are all hotly debated conversations that we have with Jerry and Stephen [Jones] and Will [McClay] and myself. And I feel great about our roster, but certainly there were some tough decisions made.”
Howell enters the season as the primary backup with 18 games of starting experience under his belt. While he hasn’t seen game action in the regular season since 2024 with the Seattle Seahawks, Howell has earned the trust for the role going into his fifth year in the league.
Game schedule dates, times, locations Aug. 24 Rangers 11, Chicago White Sox 2 Aug. 25 Chicago White Sox 11, Rangers 7 Aug. 26 Chicago White Sox 10, Rangers 4 Aug. 28 Milwaukee 6, Rangers 1 Aug. 29 Milwaukee 5, Rangers 3 Aug. 30 Rangers 7, Milwaukee 4 Aug. 31 vs. Athletics, 7:05 p.m., RSN Sept. 1 vs. Athletics, 7:05 p.m., RSN Sept. 2 vs. Athletics, 1:35 p.m., RSN Sept. 3 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:05 p.m., RSN Sept. 4 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:05 p.m., CW Sept. 5 vs. Tampa Bay, 6:05 p.m., RSN Sept. 6 vs. Tampa Bay, 1:35 p.m., RSN Aug. 17 Golden State 78, Wings 70 Aug. 20 Wings 91, Indiana 85 Aug. 23 Wings 92, Seattle 70 Aug. 25 Wings 96, Portland 78 Aug. 30 Wings 97, Connecticut 71 FIBA World Cup break Sept. 17 vs. Los Angeles, 7 p.m., KFAA, USA Sept. 19 vs. Phoenix, 12 p.m., CBS, Paramount+ Sept. 21 at Phoenix, 9 p.m., KFAA, USA Sept. 23 at Seattle, 9 p.m., KFAA, USA, CNBC End of regular season Preseason Aug. 15 Cowboys 17, Seattle 7 Aug. 22 Cowboys 34, Arizona 13 Aug. 28 New Orleans 27, Cowboys 24 Regular season Sept. 13 at N.Y. Giants, 7:20 p.m., NBC Sept. 20 vs. Washington, 3:25 p.m., Fox Sept. 27 vs. Baltimore (at Rio de Janeiro), 3:25 p.m., CBS Oct. 4 at Houston, 12 p.m., Fox Oct. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video Oct. 18 at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m., NBC Oct. 26 at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC Nov. 1 vs. Arizona, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 8 at Indianapolis, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 15 vs. San Francisco, 3:25 p.m., Fox Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee, 12 p.m., Fox Nov. 26 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., Fox Dec. 7 at Seattle, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC Dec. 20 at L.A. Rams, 3:25 p.m., CBS Dec. 27 vs. Jacksonville, 7:20 p.m., NBC Jan. 3 vs. N.Y. Giants, 12 p.m., Fox Jan. 9 or 10 at Washington, TBA Aug. 29 North Carolina 15, TCU 10 Sept. 12 vs. Grambling State, 7 p.m., ESPN+ Sept. 19 vs. Arkansas State, 7 p.m., ESPNU Sept. 26 at Central Florida, TBA Oct. 3 vs. BYU, TBA Oct. 17 at Baylor, TBA Oct. 24 vs. West Virginia, TBA Oct. 31 vs. Kansas, TBA Nov. 6 at Arizona, 9:15 p.m., ESPN Nov. 14 vs. Kansas State, TBA Nov. 21 vs. Utah, TBA Nov. 26 at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN Sept. 5 at Indiana, 11 a.m., Fox Sept. 12 vs. UNLV, 2:45 p.m., ESPNU Sept. 19 at Texas State, 11 a.m., USA Sept. 26 vs. Houston Christian, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+ Oct. 1 at Tulsa, 8 p.m., ESPN Oct. 10 vs. Charlotte, TBA Oct. 24 at Navy, 2:30 p.m. CBSSN Oct. 29 vs. Florida Atlantic, 6:30 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2 Nov. 7 vs. Rice, TBA Nov. 14 at UTSA, TBA Nov. 21 at Tulane, TBA Nov. 28 vs. UAB, TBA All home games at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium Aug. 27 Central Oklahoma 59, Texas Wesleyan 7 Sept. 5 at McNeese State, 6 p.m. Sept. 12 vs. Texas College, 6 p.m. Sept. 26 vs. Nelson, 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at Arkansas Baptist, 2 p.m. Oct. 10 at Louisiana Christian, 2 p.m. Oct. 17 vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor, 1 p.m. Oct. 24 at Langston, 2 p.m. Oct. 31 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State, 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at Ottawa (Arizona), 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at Wayland Baptist, 2 p.m. Aug. 12 Toluca 3, FC Dallas 1 (Leagues Cup) Aug. 16 FC Dallas 2, Austin 1 Aug. 19 FC Dallas 4, Salt Lake 3 Aug. 22 Vancouver 5, FC Dallas 0 Aug. 30 FC Dallas 3, St. Louis 3 Sept. 5 vs. Kansas City, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Sept. 9 at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Sept. 12 vs. Portland, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Sept. 19 vs. Austin, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Sept. 26 vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m., Apple TV Sept. 5 NASCAR Racing Experience Sept. 19 Black Light Run Sept. 25-26 Dumpster Expo Oct. 1-3 Dirt Track Championship Oct. 2-3 Goodguys Lone Star Nationals Oct. 14 Tony Stewart Bowling Tournament Oct. 16-17 High Limit Racing Championship Oct. 29-31 POWRi Racing
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Nick Harris is the Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has experience working on the beat for DallasCowboys.com and previous work experience at Yahoo Sports/Rivals and 247Sports.