Joe Milton III has rejoined the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad after being waived earlier this week, a move that keeps him as the team's practice‑squad quarterback going into the 2026 season.
Roster moves and coach comments
Milton was waived Monday and brought back to the practice squad on Wednesday, returning to the organization where he backed up Dak Prescott in 2025, his second year in the league after arriving in a trade with New England. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged the difficulty of the roster decisions, saying, "We looked at the whole body of work ... We just felt like Sam had done a little bit more just in terms of executing the offense in certain areas."
Schottenheimer also told reporters the staff would “absolutely” like to have Milton back if the opportunity presented itself, and described waiving him as a difficult decision — adding that another year in Dallas’ system would be “amazing” for the young quarterback.
Depth chart implications
The move leaves Dallas with two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, including Dak Prescott, and Milton III on the practice squad. That configuration preserves a short active-room depth while keeping Milton available in a developmental role.
Milton’s preseason performance provided part of the rationale for bringing him back: he completed 29 of 43 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. In five career NFL games, Milton has passed for 424 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Based on the current roster makeup, Milton III is projected to head into the 2026 season as Dallas’ QB3. Returning to the practice squad keeps him in the playbook and on hand to step in if injury or other circumstances require it, while allowing the Cowboys to maintain two quarterbacks on the active roster for Week 1.
From a team-management perspective, the move balances immediate roster needs and developmental upside: Milton remains in the building to learn the offense and polish his game in practice settings, but the Cowboys’ short active-room depth at quarterback leaves little margin for error on game days.
For Milton, the practice‑squad return is a chance to build on a promising preseason and the limited regular‑season experience he’s already logged. For the Cowboys, it’s a pragmatic roster decision that preserves flexibility while keeping a young arm familiar with the system within reach.
