OXNARD, Calif. — Sam Howell got the start in the Dallas Cowboys preseason opener because he had been the steadier of the two through camp. Dallas told Joe Milton III beforehand.
“We felt like Sam had been a little bit more consistent. They had both done good things. And so Sam got the start,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “We communicated that to Joe. And Joe took it very matter-of-factly and went out and played terrific.
“Both guys moved the team, but I thought Joe was maybe in the best command of our system that he’s been in since he’s been here, and I told him that after the game, how proud I was of him for that,” Schottenheimer continued. “But they’re competing again this week, and I’ll let you know when we make that decision.”
The Numbers Were Nearly Identical
Howell played the entire first half at Seattle and went 8-of-12 for 94 yards with a touchdown and a 118.1 passer rating. Milton took the second half and finished 12-of-15 for 107 yards with a touchdown and a 118.6 rating. Neither threw an interception, and neither was sacked.
Milton had been listed as the No. 2 quarterback behind Dak Prescott on the first unofficial depth chart. Jon Machota of The Athletic reported about 90 minutes before kickoff that Howell would start and play the entire first half.
What Joe Milton III Could Not Do A Year Ago
Milton is in his second season with the Cowboys. Dallas acquired him from the New England Patriots in April 2025 for a fifth-round pick, and he has 424 career passing yards. He changed a play at the line against the Seattle Seahawks.
“Camp’s a lot different,” Milton said. “I’m able to — I went through a whole year of game planning with these coaches, so I’m able to game plan the right way now, get an understanding of what they’re thinking. Shoot, I was able to fix a play. And last year, I don’t think I would have been able to do that. So I was able to fix a play today. So it’s great.”
Both quarterbacks threw their touchdown to the same receiver. Undrafted rookie Camden Brown caught a 39-yard pass from Howell late in the second quarter and a 2-yard fade from Milton in the third, finishing with 3 catches for 62 yards.
The Throw Brian Schottenheimer Pointed To
Brown also caught a 21-yard in route from Milton on the first possession of the third quarter, moving Dallas out of a second-and-15. Schottenheimer went to that throw when asked how Milton’s footwork has progressed since last preseason.
“I’ll point to the in route that he hit to Cam Brown,” Schottenheimer explained. “He was working a — we call it a flamethrower read — really going left to right in this case. Could be right to left as well. But he was working the front side combination and came back to the in cut and was very poised and in rhythm.
“And we talk a lot about keeping a base and not getting your feet close together, because getting your feet close together, your shoulders go up and down, which makes it harder to be accurate,” Schottenheimer detailed. “But he’s really bought in to the finer points of the footwork. And that play kind of really showed it.”
Sam Howell Is On His Fifth Team In Five Years
Howell signed with Dallas on March 10 after four seasons that took him through Washington, Seattle, Minnesota, and Philadelphia. He has thrown for 4,139 yards with 22 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in 20 career games, and he has two preseason games left to win this job.
“I feel good. I just try to take it one day at a time. That’s kind of my mindset,” Howell said. “And just keep trying to grow in the offense and grow in the system. And I feel like I’m getting more comfortable each and every day. So just try to make the most of each and every day and try to learn from my mistakes and not make the same mistake twice. I think that’s the big thing. And I feel like I’m in a good place, but I know there’s a lot of room for me to improve. And I’m excited to get back to work.”
Howell added 15 rushing yards on 2 attempts, including a 10-yard scramble on third-and-7 that extended the two-minute drive ending in Brown’s first touchdown. Milton had 10 rushing yards and closed the game out, taking the ball at the Dallas 15 with 6:32 left and picking up 5 first downs before kneeling on it.
Schottenheimer said Saturday night that Milton is close to unstoppable on quarterback sneaks and that it did not take long to decide he would keep letting him sneak it.
What They Played Behind
Dallas held out its entire starting offensive line at Seattle and still did not allow a sack on 63 offensive plays. Schottenheimer said Monday the line played too high and gave up too much penetration on gap games, and that the first-half run numbers reflected it.
Prescott did not dress. Neither did CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, or most of the regular lineup.
Dallas hosts the New Orleans Saints for a joint practice Tuesday in Oxnard before traveling to Arizona. The Cowboys play at the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday at 9 p.m. CT on NFL Network, then close the preseason against the Saints on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. CT at AT&T Stadium.
