The Dallas Cowboys are comfortable with Dak Prescott as their starting quarterback, but the more delicate issue lies just beneath him on the depth chart.
In a league where seasons can unravel in a single week, Dallas is still searching for certainty at quarterback two, and for now, that responsibility appears to belong to Joe Milton.
Recent history around the NFL has made one lesson painfully clear. A franchise does not survive on a star starter alone.
Teams such as Washington, Cincinnati and Indianapolis learned that the hard way in 2025 when injuries exposed thin quarterback rooms. Others, most notably San Francisco, showed the opposite. With Brock Purdy sidelined, the presence of Mac Jones allowed the 49ers to stay competitive rather than spiral.
Dallas has lived both realities. Cooper Rush once inspired real confidence, opening his Cowboys career with four straight wins as a starter.
That trust eroded last season when Prescott went down with a hamstring injury and Rush finished 4-4 in relief. It was respectable, but not reassuring enough to eliminate long-term doubts.
Milton is a different kind of bet. Drafted in the sixth round out of Tennessee by New England, he arrived in the league with eye-catching arm strength and athletic traits, but also with clear developmental needs.
The Cowboys acquired him via trade last offseason, fully aware that he was a project rather than a plug-and-play solution.
Why Dallas is leaning toward development over experience
Despite the uncertainty, the Cowboys appear ready to move forward with Milton as Prescott‘s primary backup.
Writing for DallasCowboys.com, Tommy Yarrish laid out the current state of the roster in clear terms.
“Joe Milton is the only other quarterback on the roster, as Will Grier was not signed to a reserve/futures deal. … For now, Milton will remain Prescott’s backup, and it appears to be trending that way for a second season,” he noted.
That direction comes with complications. Carrying three quarterbacks on the active roster is something teams generally avoid, even though Dallas previously did so while evaluating Trey Lance.
Bringing Grier back as a practice squad option remains possible, but it would also introduce competition that could quickly reshape the depth chart if injuries strike.
Read the full article here
