FRISCO, Texas — Sam Howell will open the season as Dak Prescott‘s backup. The Dallas Cowboys waived Joe Milton III on Monday to create a roster spot for running back Emari Demercado, claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs, and the move left Howell as the second of two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Claims on Milton were due at 3 p.m. CT Tuesday. None came in.
Part of the reason Howell signed in Dallas was to learn from Prescott.
“Obviously, extremely excited to be a part of this team and be a part of this organization,” Howell said. “It’s been a lot of hard work, and the work doesn’t stop now. I’m committed to this team, and I’m going to try to find ways to help this team win. And that’s my job, and I’m excited to be here for sure.”
Dallas signed Howell on March 10 to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million guaranteed, with a base salary of $2 million. He is entering his fifth NFL season. Washington drafted him in the fifth round, 144th overall, in 2022, and all 18 of his career starts came there across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Howell spent last season with the Philadelphia Eagles and did not take a regular-season snap.
Sam Howell On Learning From Dak Prescott
Howell expects the season itself to be where he learns the most from Prescott.
“I love Dak. Dak’s been great to me,” Howell explained. “He’s been a great mentor. And it’s been fun to learn from him in the meeting room and on the practice field and just in life in general. Dak’s a really smart guy. He’s a good guy, great teammate, one of the best teammates I’ve been around.”
“So it’s been a fun time in the quarterback room, and I’ve taken it to him on the golf course a couple times, so I’ve gotten to know him pretty well,” Howell continued. “But excited to be here with him. Obviously, part of the reason why I wanted to come here was to learn from a guy like Dak. He’s been great to me, and I’m excited to help him this year.”
Prescott is entering his 11th season with the Cowboys and has not appeared in a preseason game since 2019. Milton served as his primary backup in 2025 and started two of Dallas’ three preseason games this August. Howell started the preseason opener at Seattle on Aug. 15, a 17-7 Dallas win, and finished the preseason 27-of-40 for 314 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for a score.
Howell has backed up a lot of different quarterbacks in a lot of different places.
“A lot. I think I’m going to learn a lot this year throughout the season,” Howell said. “I think that’s when you can learn the most. But he’s a pro, man, just the way he approaches the game and just the way he leads. He’s one of the best leaders, if not the best leader I’ve ever been around. It’s been fun to watch how he gets the other guys around him going. This team looks to him, and it’s cool to be a part of a team like that.”
Howell threw for 155 yards on 12-of-18 passing with two touchdowns in the preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 28 at AT&T Stadium. He brought Dallas back from a 15-point second-half deficit and ran in a two-point conversion with 6:11 to play before New Orleans won 27-24 on a 53-yard field goal.
What Sam Howell Says A Starter Needs From A Backup
Howell said Prescott has been a mentor to him in the meeting room and on the practice field since March.
“I think everybody’s different. I’ve been kind of a lot of different places, and I’ve backed up a lot of different guys, and everyone’s kind of different,” Howell said. “They have a process here, and there’s a lot of help in the quarterback room. Coach Shimko does a good job, and Will Grier as well helps us a lot.”
“So I’ll ask those guys what they need from me throughout the week, and I’ll be happy to help,” Howell added. “But we’ll kind of know more as far as probably next week. I could probably answer that better. But whatever he needs, I’m willing to do.”
Quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko and offensive assistant Will Grier both work with the room. Grier, who played for the Cowboys in 2021 and 2022 and again in 2024 and 2025, joined the staff in July after retiring as a player.
Howell has completed 404 of 645 career passes for 4,139 yards with 22 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
A group of Cowboys players took a golf trip to Utah in late August. Video of George Pickens missing the ball on a tee shot, with Prescott and Howell offering swing advice, was posted to social media Tuesday.
Dallas opens the regular season Sunday, Sept. 13, at the New York Giants. Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
