Cowboys waive QB Joe Milton, clearing way for Sam Howell to be backup

In a surprising move, the Dallas Cowboys waived backup quarterback Joe Milton on Monday, a day after he was on the team’s initial 53-man roster. He struggled a bit in Dallas’ final preseason game Friday after he was outstanding in the first two, but Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said the backup battle between Milton and Sam Howell was “neck-and-neck.”

It’s also somewhat surprising that the Cowboys couldn’t get anything in return via trade for Milton if they were willing to part with him.

Dallas claimed Kansas City Chiefs running back Emari Demercado off waivers earlier Monday, and Milton was the corresponding move.

“The competition’s not over,” Schottenheimer said Monday of the backup QB battle, about an hour before the move was announced. “We need to just continue to assess so many positions, but those guys have made it really, really hard on us, and it’s been an awesome competition, and we’re still piecing the puzzle together, and that’s where this thing is very fluid.”

In the Cowboys’ final preseason game Friday against the New Orleans Saints — a 27-24 loss — Milton completed 8 of 15 passes for 92 yards. Howell finished 12-for-18 for 155 yards and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes. If nothing else changes before the Cowboys open the season on “Sunday Night Football” on Sept. 13 against the New York Giants, Howell will be Dak Prescott’s backup.

Last week, Milton said Year 2 in the Cowboys’ offense has been a “big difference” for him.

“I’ve made a huge jump in my stride of this offense. … Me understanding myself more,” Milton said. “Doing self-evals, being able to understand that when I’m in a great base, I’m able to deliver the ball however I want to. … Just gotta have a great base at all times.”

Milton added on the backup QB battle with Howell: “It’s great. I love competition. I love competing no matter where I’m at. That’s life. If my grandma was out here, I’m gonna compete with her.”

“I’m going into Year 3 of the NFL. A lot of people wish they could be here. I’m just making sure I stay here.”