Will Cowboys Make a Shocking QB Change in Preseason Finale?
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Dak Prescott isn't expected to suit up for the Dallas Cowboys' final game of the 2025 NFL Preseason. The quarterback is looking at Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Meanwhile, the two quarterbacks behind Prescott seem to be in a tight battle to take up the No. 2 spot. Joe Milton has been struggling throughout the offseason, which raised questions about the potential of Will Grier starting the third preseason game.
Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer addressed that idea and shut it down.
via @toddarcher: Brian Schottenheimer did [say] Joe Milton will start Friday vs. Atlanta and not surprisingly Dak Prescott will not play. Why not start Will Grier? "Joe is a player we need to find out more about," the coach said.
Brian Schottenheimer did Joe Milton will start Friday vs. Atlanta and not surprisingly Dak Prescott will not play. Why not start Will Grier? 'Joe is a player we need to find out more about,' the coach said. — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 18, 2025
The Cowboys made an investment in Milton. It wasn't as simple as they signed the quarterback to a one-year deal, and could simply cut ties with him next year without a thought.
Back in April, the Cowboys and the New England Patriots negotiated a trade to send Milton to the Cowboys along with a 2025 seventh-round pick. In exchange, the Cowboys gave up a fifth-round pick.
Joe Milton III #10 of the Dallas Cowboys looks to pass during the first half of the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Arlington, Texas....
Joe Milton III #10 of the Dallas Cowboys looks to pass during the first half of the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. MoreRead More: NFL Writer Floats Ex-Eagles QB as Option for NFC East Rival
They traded an asset to get Milton, and now they want to see it work.
But it's also not as simple as the Cowboys having a hard time accepting that they traded for a backup who might not pan out. At the end of the day, Milton is a young prospect. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Patriots. He spent just one season in New England and made one appearance.
During his lone matchup with the Patriots, Milton threw 29 passes. He completed 22 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown. With a very small sample size, it's far too early for the Cowboys to decide whether Milton could be the right option over Grier if something went south for Prescott again.
Read More: NFL Insider Offers Bleak Update on Cowboys Star Micah Parsons
Just last year, Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury. The Cowboys felt compelled to invest in insurance. Milton is a gamble like most sixth-round draft selections, and the Cowboys will continue to assess when they can, since this is the final game that won't count for anything.
The Cowboys are set to play the Atlanta Falcons on Friday.
For more Dallas Cowboys and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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