Despite the Cowboys being virtually eliminated from the playoffs with a 6-7-1 record going into Week 16 of the NFL season, it doesn’t appear that Dallas has any plans to take quarterback Dak Prescott out of the starting lineup to give backup quarterback Joe Milton III some extra reps.
It could happen late in a game at some point in the final few weeks, but head coach Brian Schottenheimer shut down any current chances of naming Milton the starter during the final stretch.
“We want to win,” Schottenheimer said on Tuesday. “We’re starting Dak.”
Things could always change at some point, and Schottenheimer could change his mind about things. But, as of now, it doesn’t look like the second-year player out of Tennessee will be starting for Dallas this season.
After playing his first season with New England in 2024, the Patriots traded their former sixth-round draft pick to Dallas over the summer. The Cowboys needed someone more explosive as their backup with the departure of Cooper Rush, and Milton fit the mold. While playing in three games during the Cowboys’ preseason slate, Milton threw for 397 yards on 55.4% passing, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also tallied 66 rushing yards across the three games.
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Milton has only seen the field twice this season, with both coming at the tail end of blowout defeats for Dallas. He played against Chicago in September and completed three of five passes for 41 yards and an interception. Milton then found some playing time against Denver, where he completed three of four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. On the season as a whole, he has 99 passing yards, one touchdown, and one pick.
During his final season at Tennessee, Milton threw for 2,813 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions during the Vols’ 8-4 slate. He also ran for 299 yards and seven touchdowns. His best game as a Volunteer came in his final game with Tennessee, going for 383 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, 11 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns against Vanderbilt.
Unless traded at some point in the future, Milton will be with the Cowboys for the remainder of his rookie contract, which runs through the 2027 season.
