Joe Milton's Cowboys Battle for Backup QB Role

0:00On March 30th, Joe Milton, the former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback, thought he was escaping a tough spot when he got traded from the New England, Patriots to the Dallas Cowboys last off season. He wanted a real shot at playing time, but now he's battling just to lock down the backup role behind Dak Prescott. Back in New England, Milton barely saw the field, getting only a handful of reps over 16 games. He felt disrespected, questioning why they drafted him in the first place since coaches wouldn't explain or give him chances to grow. He pushed his A to Z hard for the trade to chase better opportunities. Fans and folks in the NFL world are buzzing about this, seeing echoes of Milton's frustration on the practice field where he lit up the scout team, defense to make a point. It's a reminder of how cutthroat the Lee can be for young quarterbacks, fighting for respect, and reps. This week, Cowboys coach Brian Shottenheimer confirmed Milton will compete with veteran Sam Howell, who they signed to a two year deal earlier this month.

1:01Howell brings experience, turning this into a straight up battle for the number two spot, heading into 2026. Milton's old Tennessee teammate, Hendon Hooker, went through something similar last year, with the Detroit Lions and lost out, leading to his release. If Milton can outshine Howell this off season, he stays in the mix, otherwise, it might be another tough lesson in the NFL grind.