The Dallas Cowboys have brought quarterback Joe Milton III back into the building, signing the strong-armed former Tennessee standout to the practice squad after he cleared waivers without a claim.
The move closes a two-day stretch that began with Milton on the club’s initial 53-man roster and ended with him off the active list so Dallas could claim running back Emari Demercado.
Sam Howell remains Dak Prescott’s backup as the team prepares to open the regular season against the New York Giants.
Milton’s preseason work had many observers expecting him to stick as the No. 2. Across three exhibition games he completed 29 of 43 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, adding a rushing score and flashing the arm talent that first drew attention after Dallas acquired him from New England.
Howell, signed this offseason with guaranteed money, answered in the finale and ultimately won the job on what coaches described as the full body of work rather than any single outing.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer and executive vice president Stephen Jones both said they hoped to keep Milton in the building if he went unclaimed, and reports Wednesday indicated he preferred to stay even after drawing interest around the league.
The sequence itself has drawn skepticism.
Dallas kept three quarterbacks through Sunday’s deadline, then waived Milton on Monday once other clubs had already set their 53-man rosters. That timing made a claim less likely and allowed the Cowboys to re-sign him to the practice squad, where he can develop in a familiar scheme without occupying an active roster spot.
Critics, including former NFL receiver Chad Johnson, have argued the franchise waited on purpose so a cheaper, more explosive option would not sit immediately behind Prescott and fuel the kind of midseason whispers that can unsettle a veteran starter.
Johnson called the choice “dirty business,” suggesting Howell poses less of a public threat if Prescott struggles. Cowboys officials have rejected that framing, pointing to roster math, the need for a fourth running back, and the decision to carry only two quarterbacks on the 53.
What remains is a familiar NFL compromise. Milton stays in Dallas, continues learning Brian Schottenheimer’s offense, and remains a phone call away if injury strikes.
Howell holds the active backup job. Prescott remains the unquestioned starter. Whether the timing was shrewd roster management or an effort to keep a rising backup from becoming a narrative problem will be argued for as long as Milton is on the practice squad and not on another team’s 53.
For now, the Cowboys have their third quarterback back in the locker room, just not on the field on Sundays unless something changes.
