OXNARD, Calif. — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will not pick between Sam Howell and Joe Milton III, and he said Thursday that is not his job.
Prescott was asked what he has seen from the backup competition inside the quarterback room. Both players saw work four days earlier in Dallas’ preseason opener at Seattle.
“Two guys that are enjoying the competition, but doing it very much so from a brotherly standpoint,” Prescott said. “No negative, no ill will towards each other. That’s not something we would believe in our room or even encourage.”
Prescott thought both handled their first preseason work well.
“Especially in their first game, they both went out there and had great command,” Prescott explained. “I wouldn’t be able to say one over the other, and that’s not my job for one. So they’ve kind of made it seem that same way getting into here in week two.”
Brian Schottenheimer said earlier Thursday that the Cowboys had not decided who would start Saturday at Arizona. He expected that decision to be made Thursday night.
Sam Howell, Joe Milton III Both Played Against Seattle
Howell started and completed 8-of-12 passes for 94 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown to Camden Brown. He also ran twice for 15 yards.
Dallas signed Howell to a one-year, $2.5 million deal in March. The 25-year-old has been with five teams since entering the NFL in 2022.
Washington took Howell in the fifth round, 144th overall, out of North Carolina. He started all 17 games for the Commanders in 2023 and led the NFL in both pass attempts and interceptions that season.
Howell has made 18 career starts and thrown for 4,139 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions.
Milton served as Prescott’s backup last season. He appeared in four games and completed 15-of-24 passes for 183 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
New England drafted Milton in the sixth round in 2024, 193rd overall out of Tennessee, before trading him to Dallas the following offseason. The 26-year-old has 424 career passing yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Dak Prescott Is Staying Out Of The Decision
Prescott’s last preseason appearance came in 2019.
Schottenheimer said Aug. 3 that Dallas plans to keep most of its starters out of all three preseason games. That has left the quarterback snaps to Howell and Milton.
Prescott started every game last season and completed 404-of-600 passes for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He is entering his 11th NFL season at 33.
Howell and Milton have traded days working behind Prescott throughout camp.
Schottenheimer said last week that Milton’s arm talent and athleticism stand out in practice. Howell, meanwhile, has consistently moved the offense. Schottenheimer said the preseason games would carry most of the weight in evaluating the competition.
Prescott said the way Howell and Milton have handled the competition fits how the entire quarterback room operates.
“We’re a room that just truly believes in each other, is going to push each other,” Prescott said. “And at the end of the day, it’s about making sure whoever’s number is called is the best version of themselves and is going to be the best understanding what the team needs.”
Dallas plays at the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. The Cowboys close the preseason against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. CT.
