Cowboys Cut Ties With Former Touted QB While Making Quarterback Announcement
The Dallas Cowboys officially have a backup quarterback behind Dak Prescott, but it is unclear just how secure the QB2 job is heading into the season. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer left the door open for the team to add a veteran quarterback while naming Joe Milton as the backup.
The news came as the Cowboys announced that Will Grier was among the notable cuts as the team finalized the 53-man roster. It became clear during both training camp and preseason that Dallas was giving Milton every opportunity to be the team’s backup quarterback.
Yet, Milton struggled with consistency throughout the preseason. Milton was a bit of a mixed bag completing 36-of-65 passes for 458 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in three preseason appearances for the Cowboys.
Here’s what you need to know about the Cowboys quarterbacks.
The Cowboys Are Leaving the Door Open to Signing Another Veteran Quarterback
Leaving the door open to a quarterback signing a little more than one week before the start of the season does not display a ton of confidence. It remains to be seen how serious Dallas will be in their potential search for an additional quarterback.
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“Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Joe Milton is their backup QB but they’re not done looking around the league at the position,” The Athletic’s Jon Machota explained in an August 26, 2025, post on X. “’I thought Joe settled in. We feel good about his direction and where he can go.’”
Cowboys Rumors: Dallas Could Re-Sign Will Grier to the Team’s Practice Squad
Grier was once viewed as a potential first-round pick. Following a standout career at West Virginia, Grier fell to the third round in the 2019 NFL draft before the Carolina Panthers stopped his slide.
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A Cowboys reunion could still be in play for Grier. Dallas could look to sign Grier to the team’s practice squad in the coming days.
“Will Grier could return to the practice squad to give the Cowboys three quarterbacks with him, Dak Prescott, Joe Milton III,” ESPN’s Todd Archer noted on August 26. “Would look for Hakeem Adeniji, C.J. Goodwin to return to the roster as soon as Wednesday with Phil Mafah, Caelen Carson heading to injured reserve.”
The Cowboys Need to Have Faith in the Team’s QB2 Given Dak Prescott’s Recent Injury History
With Prescott returning from a season-ending hamstring injury, the Cowboys backup quarterback role has some added importance. During the preseason, Schottenheimer admitted that the team was still learning about Milton’s game.
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“Joe Milton is the guy we want to find out more about,” Schottenheimer said weeks before Grier was released, per Yahoo Sports. “We’re not naming a backup right now, but the guy that I feel like we don’t have as much information on is Joe Milton. I feel like we have more information on Will.”
With the Cowboys roster mostly set, the attention returns to Micah Parsons amid the star’s trade request. The clock is ticking for Dallas to get a contract extension signed before taking on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1.
