FRISCO
As the Dallas Cowboys whittled their roster down last week following the preseason, they generated buzz by surprisingly waiving quarterback Joe Milton III.
Despite being on the initial 53-man roster, Milton was waived a day later, as the Cowboys needed a roster spot following the acquisition of running back Emari Demercado. The move officially stated that Milton lost the backup quarterback job to Sam Howell after each played well in the preseason.
“Yeah, it was shocking,” Milton said Monday. “But it’s life. You got to be able to live with it and roll with it and deliver blows back whenever it’s time.”
After clearing waivers, Milton decided to return to the team’s practice squad. He will not be active on game day, but he could be called upon if an injury happens.
“It’s a part of the business,” Milton said. “I’ve been in this situation before. I’ve been through it before, so I know what to do and what to get myself prepared for. Also, you just got to be ready when your name is called. It’s a long season, 17 games, and hopefully we go to the Super Bowl. You never know what’s going to happen. You just got to be ready.”
In the preseason, Milton completed 29 of 43 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another score. Howell completed 27 of 40 passes for 314 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while rushing for one touchdown.
Milton wasn’t shy about how he felt like he performed over the last month.
“I’m still the best quarterback in my eyes,” Milton said. “It is what it is. It’s something you got to live with and take to the chin. … I don’t feel like I’d change nothing [about the preseason]. Everything happens for a reason, right?”
Milton could have explored other options as a free agent, but he took a day to decide that Dallas was ultimately the best spot for continuing his development.
“Somewhat [of a tough decision], but not really,” he said. “I have a lot of relationships here and guys I trust with my development. I got Dak in my room. A lot of places don’t have a true vet that have been playing, starting in this league since they got in. Having him in the room is just one of those ways that I know I’ll be taken care of as far as my knowledge and my development of the game.”
Game schedule dates, times, locations Aug. 31 Rangers 8, Athletics 1 Sept. 1 Rangers 8, Athletics 5 Sept. 2 Athletics 9, Rangers 2 Sept. 3 Rangers 6, Tampa Bay 0 Sept. 4 Tampa Bay 7, Rangers 6 Sept. 5 Tampa Bay 6, Rangers 3 (10 innings) Sept. 6 Rangers 8, Tampa Bay 6 Sept. 8 at Seattle, 8:40 p.m., RSN Sept. 9 at Seattle, 3:10 p.m., RSN Sept. 10 at Seattle, 3:10 p.m., RSN Sept. 11 at Arizona, 8:40 p.m., RSN Sept. 12 at Arizona, 7:10 p.m., RSN Sept. 13 at Arizona, 3:10 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 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 Indiana 52, North Texas 16 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 McNeese State 52, Texas Wesleyan 0 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. 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 FC Dallas 4, Kansas City 3 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 Oct. 10 at Charlotte, 6:30 p.m., Apple TV 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
This story was originally published September 7, 2026 at 3:51 PM.
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.