The Dallas Cowboys made another surprising roster move on Monday by waiving quarterback Joe Milton III despite a strong performance during the preseason.
Milton lost the backup quarterback battle to Sam Howell, who the Cowboys brought in this offseason as a free agent. It remained unclear who exactly was a step ahead after the preseason finale, but Dallas’ decision to
Milton hit the waiver wire with a chance to land with a new team. However, he officially cleared waivers on Tuesday, making him a free agent and opening up the door for a return to Dallas.
Cowboys Would “Absolutely” Want to Bring Joe Milton Back
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III (10) warms up before the game against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters on Tuesday that Dallas would “absolutely” want to bring Milton back should he clear waivers.
Now, the opportunity is officially there. We will see if Schottenheimer and the Cowboys truly want Milton back as a No. 3 emergency quarterback this season or if the team decides to add another quarterback behind Howell.
That said, Milton clearing waivers means he doesn’t have to join Dallas if he doesn’t want to. But since he wasn’t claimed, it’s hard to imagine that any other teams besides the Cowboys are currently interested in adding him to the roster.
If Dallas comes calling, Milton’s smartest move would be to return to the Cowboys with little hesitation.
Why Sam Howell Won the Backup QB Job Over Joe Milton
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Sam Howell (16) throws the ball during the game between the Cowboys and the Saints at AT&T Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Schottenheimer told reporters that Howell was “a little bit better” when it came to running the offense.
“When we looked at the whole body of work we felt like Sam had done a little bit better of executing the offense,” Schottenheimer said.
Howell got the start in the preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks before Milton started in the second exhibition against the Arizona Cardinals. Howell then got the start in the finale at home against the New Orleans Saints.
Milton finished the preseason 29 of 43 passing for 378 yards and three touchdowns. He added 12 carries for 14 yards and one rushing touchdown.
By far his best performance came in Arizona when he went 9 of 13 passing for 179 yards and two touchdowns along with a rushing score after the first half. Many fans felt that Milton secured the backup job that night.
As for Howell, he finished the three-game slate 27 of 40 passing for 314 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
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