FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys “absolutely” want Joe Milton III back on the practice squad, coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday, a day after the club waived the quarterback.
Dallas waived Milton on Monday as the corresponding move for its waiver claim of running back Emari Demercado from the Kansas City Chiefs. Milton had made the initial 53-man roster on Sunday alongside Dak Prescott and Sam Howell, with the Cowboys keeping three quarterbacks. Most clubs carry two.
Schottenheimer said the backup job was debated from the time the team reconvened in April until roughly 1 p.m. Monday, when he left his availability at The Star and finalized the decision.
“Absolutely,” Schottenheimer said. “We told you guys. I told you guys yesterday. These things move fast, and it was a very, very hard decision to make. Great conversation with Joe. Explained to him our thought process behind it. I think when 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. And to have Joe Milton back would be incredible. We’ll see what happens with the claims and then see what he wants to do.”
“I think we’ve shown that we know how to develop him,” Schottenheimer continued. “I think him being in this system for another year would be amazing. But I also know that he should have choices. And so we’ll see what happens. But in terms of wanting him back, absolutely.”
Milton has not reached vested veteran status in his third season, so the move sent him to waivers rather than straight to free agency. Another club can claim him and the two years remaining on his rookie contract before Dallas gets a chance to sign him.
Dallas held trade conversations on Milton before Sunday’s cut to 53 players, ESPN’s Todd Archer reported, citing a source.
“I’m not going to get into some of the specifics,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s obviously a very talented person, Calvin, so you can imagine. Those things don’t always come through, but there was definitely people interested in Joe, so we’ll see.”
Brian Schottenheimer On Joe Milton III’s Upside
Schottenheimer said last week that the offense is not an easy system to learn and that Milton was in a much different place in his understanding of it than a year ago.
“I’m not going to say you put him into a box of what he could be, but the arm talent’s real,” Schottenheimer said. “I think we’ve talked a lot in here, Clarence, about the touch and how he’s developed the touch. I do know that he did a much better job with our system. This is what guys that come from that spread system have to deal with in terms of the learning curve of coming in and having to learn how to huddle and call a play in the huddle and make different decisions. And it’s not all done from hand signals in the sidelines and things like that. And some of them it takes a little bit of time.”
“I think Joe’s going to be a terrific player in this league,” Schottenheimer added. “I’m not going to say in what regard, but like I said, it was a very tough decision, one we did not take lightly. If we can get him back, awesome. If not, I wish him nothing but the best of luck. He’s a terrific young man. He worked really, really hard to get better. I think he has a very bright future.”
Milton completed 29 of 43 passes for 378 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions across three preseason games. He carried 12 times for 14 yards and a rushing touchdown. Howell went 27 of 40 for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception, and he ran for a score.
Dallas started Howell in the preseason opener at Seattle. Milton started the next two games, including the finale against New Orleans on Aug. 28 at AT&T Stadium.
Joe Milton III’s Waiver Status And The Dallas Cowboys’ Practice Squad
The New England Patriots drafted Milton in the sixth round in 2024, 193rd overall. He appeared in one regular-season game as a rookie. New England traded him and a 2025 seventh-round pick to Dallas on April 3, 2025, for a 2025 fifth-round pick.
Milton played 51 offensive snaps for the Cowboys last season. He appeared in four games and went 15 of 24 for 183 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Across five career games, none of them starts, Milton has thrown for 424 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Dallas has two open standard practice squad spots. The club signed offensive tackle Wanya Morris and defensive tackle Elijah Garcia on Tuesday. Schottenheimer said the Cowboys will not carry a third quarterback on the 53-man roster, and he noted that some clubs are keeping four.
“Absolutely,” Schottenheimer said. “And if Joe is claimed or Joe chooses to go someplace else, you can expect us to add a quarterback.”
Howell signed with Dallas on March 10 on a one-year deal worth $2.5 million guaranteed. His base salary is $2 million. He has 18 career starts, all with the Washington Commanders in 2022 and 2023. Across 20 career games, Howell has thrown for 4,139 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Dallas opens the regular season at the New York Giants on Sept. 13. Kickoff at MetLife Stadium is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
