Joe Milton vs. Sam Howell: Who Leads Cowboys’ QB2 Battle?

Neither Joe Milton nor Sam Howell has won the Dallas Cowboys’ backup quarterback job. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on August 24 that the competition is still “probably neck and neck,” adding that Howell may be slightly ahead based on training camp. The public game evidence points the other way: Milton has produced more yards, more touchdowns and no interceptions through two preseason games. Dallas’ finale against New Orleans on Friday, August 28, is the next decisive checkpoint.

AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home of the Cowboys’ final QB2 decision. Photo: Mahanga, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; cropped to 16:9.

What Dallas officially said about the QB2 race

The Cowboys’ August 24 update is the clearest statement of the current depth chart. Schottenheimer said Dallas is not ready to decide and described both quarterbacks as capable of serving behind Dak Prescott. He also separated practice performance from game performance: Howell may have a small training-camp advantage, while Milton has delivered two strong preseason appearances.

That distinction explains why Howell started the opener in Seattle and why the staff has not simply awarded the job after Milton’s highlights in Arizona. Quarterback evaluation includes command of the huddle, protection calls, timing, third-down decisions and how consistently the offense functions across hundreds of practice snaps. A preseason stat line captures only part of that work.

The same caution applies whenever an August result looks conclusive. Football Nation’s guide to what NFL preseason games actually count toward explains why exhibition statistics do not enter regular-season records even though coaches use the snaps to settle roster roles.

Why Milton leads the public game evidence

Dallas’ official recap of the 34-13 win over Arizona credited Milton with 9 completions on 13 attempts for 179 yards, two passing touchdowns, no interceptions and a rushing score. He hit Jonathan Mingo for a 53-yard touchdown and helped create a 70-yard gain to Camden Brown before scoring on the next snap. The Cowboys led 24-6 at halftime.

Howell completed 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards in the second half but threw an interception in the end zone. The Associated Press independently reported that Milton’s performance strengthened his case while Schottenheimer continued to say more evaluation was required. That is the correct balance: the game favored Milton, but the team has not converted one night into a final depth-chart ruling.

Cowboys preseason passing totals through two games

Quarterback	Completions	Passing yards	Pass TD	INT
Joe Milton III	21 of 28	286	3	0
Sam Howell	15 of 22	159	1	1

Source: Dallas Cowboys, August 24, 2026. Milton also has one rushing touchdown. Both quarterbacks have played two halves. The table matters because it compares the same competition window, but it does not measure the full practice workload that Dallas says remains central to the decision.

Why Howell can still win

Howell’s case begins with consistency in the larger body of camp work. Schottenheimer said Howell’s practice performance may be a little ahead, and the opening-game start in Seattle reflected that evaluation. Howell also brings more NFL starting experience, including a full season as Washington’s starter in 2023. Experience does not guarantee better play, but it can matter for a backup expected to enter with limited preparation and protect an established offense.

The strongest misconception is that Milton’s better box score automatically settles the role. Dallas uses a high-volume offense, and the staff must trust the backup to handle its complete menu rather than only the simplified packages and basic coverages common in preseason. Milton’s improvement in touch and poise is meaningful. Howell’s advantage, if it exists, is that the coaches may trust his processing over the broader sample.

The decision also affects roster construction. Football Nation’s 2026 roster-cut guide explains the pressure created by the 53-man limit, while the emergency third-quarterback rule shows why QB3 is a separate designation rather than a free extra roster spot.

The Dallas star and helmet design on the AT&T Stadium turf. Photo: Mahanga, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; cropped to 16:9.

What changes next for Dallas

The August 28 finale against the Saints should provide the cleanest final comparison. Watch who starts, which quarterback receives the earlier second-unit snaps, how each handles pressure and whether the staff places either player in two-minute or red-zone situations. Practice rep distribution in Frisco may offer a clue before kickoff, but the meaningful fact will be the team’s announcement after the final evaluation.

The matchup arrives after the NFL fined Dallas and New Orleans following their joint-practice fights, adding scrutiny to a finale that already carries real roster consequences. The broader timing matters too: the league’s unusual 2026 cutdown calendar gives teams only a short window to turn their last preseason evidence into the final 53.

Fantasy impact: neither backup is a standard draft target

Prescott remains the unquestioned starter, so Milton and Howell should not be selected in normal one-quarterback redraft leagues. Even in most superflex formats, the better approach is to monitor the winner rather than spend a meaningful pick on a reserve with no projected weekly role. If Prescott were unavailable, Dallas could also adjust the offense instead of asking either backup to reproduce his full passing volume.

The competition still matters for dynasty managers and very deep superflex leagues because the winner becomes the first waiver priority if Prescott misses time. It also provides useful contrast with Cleveland’s already announced decision, covered in Football Nation’s report on why the Browns chose Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders. Dallas is not at that stage yet; no official QB2 declaration exists.

Football Nation verdict

Milton has the stronger preseason résumé, and his combination of arm talent, touch, mobility and ball security makes him the more exciting option. Howell still may hold a narrow coaching-staff edge because the daily camp tape covers more situations than two exhibition halves. The honest answer is that Milton leads the games while Howell may lead the practices. Until Dallas weighs both samples after August 28, calling either player the winner would turn analysis into a false fact.