Joe Milton continued to make a strong case for the backup quarterback position with the Dallas Cowboys, throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for another in a 34-13 victory against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night. The game marked Milton's second consecutive impressive performance in the preseason, as he competes with Sam Howell for the No. 2 role behind Dak Prescott.
Milton completed 9 of 13 passes for 176 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Mingo and a 70-yard completion to Camden Brown, which set up his own 1-yard touchdown run. Coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged Milton's recent success but emphasized that the competition for the backup role is ongoing, stating, "This is long from over."
The Cowboys established a significant lead early in the game, going into halftime with a score of 24-6. Jaydon Blue contributed to the offense with 75 rushing yards on 15 carries. Howell, who started the second half, completed 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards but also threw an interception in the end zone.
On the defensive side, Cowboys cornerback Shavon Revel made an early impact by intercepting a pass from Arizona's Gardner Minshew, returning it 22 yards to set up an 8-yard touchdown pass from Milton to Malik Davis. Revel, in his second season with the Cowboys, was drafted in 2025.
The Cardinals faced difficulties, including two touchdowns being called back due to penalties on receiver Rivaldo Fairweather. Arizona coach Mike LaFleur noted that the team had a poor week of practice, which reflected in their performance during the game.
