FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys have settled their backup quarterback competition, with Sam Howell earning the No. 2 spot behind Dak Prescott heading into the 2026 regular season.
The decision came Monday when Dallas waived Joe Milton III, clearing a roster spot after the Cowboys claimed running back Emari Demercado off waivers. Howell is now the only quarterback on the active roster behind Prescott.
The move was somewhat unexpected after Milton put together an impressive preseason. He completed 29 of 43 passes for 378 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in three preseason appearances.
But Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday that the decision came down to the bigger picture.
Schottenheimer pointed to Howell’s consistency, command of the offense and ability to work through progressions as factors that ultimately separated him from Milton. Howell also brings significantly more NFL starting experience, having started 18 games in his career, including all 17 games for Washington in 2023.
Howell, 25, signed with Dallas during the offseason after spending the 2025 season with Philadelphia without appearing in a game. His most extensive NFL action came in Washington in 2023, when he threw for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
The Cowboys’ decision doesn’t necessarily mean Milton’s time in Dallas is over. The team has expressed interest in bringing him back on the practice squad if he clears waivers, giving the organization an opportunity to continue developing a quarterback it acquired in a trade with New England last year.
For now, though, the depth chart is clear:
QB1: Dak Prescott
QB2: Sam Howell
With the regular season approaching, Dallas is betting on Howell’s experience and consistency to provide stability behind Prescott.
