Cowboys Have Another Change of Heart on QB Less Than 24 Hours After Cuts

The Dallas Cowboys are reuniting with a familiar quarterback less than 24 hours after making a series of cuts to finalize the team’s 53-man roster. Dallas has named Joe Milton the team’s backup quarterback behind Dak Prescott.

This made Will Grier expendable as the third quarterback prompting the Cowboys to release the signal-caller on August 26, 2025. The Cowboys have signed Grier on multiple occasions and also released the quarterback three times (2022, 2023 and 2025).

Just one day later, Dallas announced the team has once again signed Grier to the practice squad, giving the Cowboys a third quarterback. The Cowboys initially claimed Grier off waivers in 2021 and have now signed the veteran on three separate occasions (not counting Dallas signing Grier to the active roster from the practice squad in January 2025).

This is a long way of saying Grier has had a complicated history with the Cowboys. Here’s what you need to know about the Cowboys quarterbacks.

QB Will Grier Has Had Multiple Stints With the Cowboys

The difference between the active roster and practice squad is Grier is now eligible to be poached by opposing teams. Grier would need to be signed to another franchise’s active roster for this to be possible.

Additionally, Grier needs to be moved up to the active roster (something NFL teams can do prior to games) in order to suit up on gameday and be eligible to play. Following the team’s roster cuts, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer left the door open for Dallas potentially making a late addition at quarterback.

This does not make the roles of either Grier or Milton particularly safe.

“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 noted in an August 26, post on X. “’I thought Joe settled in. We feel good about his direction and where he can go.’”

The Cowboys Left the Door Open to Signing a Veteran Quarterback

Milton did not exactly display consistency during his extended snaps in the preseason. So far, the Cowboys seem willing to let Milton grow as the team’s backup behind Prescott.

Yet, it is a risky proposition as Milton is just one unfortunate play away from being called into action. Prescott is returning from a season-ending hamstring injury and has a concerning recent history when it comes to missing games.

After giving up a draft pick to acquire Milton from the New England Patriots, the Cowboys clearly wanted Milton to be the team’s backup over Grier, who admittedly is a bit more of a known commodity behind center given his experience.

Joe Milton Still Has a Lot to Prove as the Cowboys Backup Quarterback

After the team’s preseason matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Schottenheimer discussed the difference between Milton and the team’s former backup Cooper Rush.

“Cooper Rush has played in this league a long time,” Schottenheimer told reporters on August 16, per CBS Sports. “What he did tonight didn’t surprise anyone in the first half.

“I’ve seen him do that for the last three years. Joe Milton is in Year 2. So again, I’m not panicked. It’s not just them. It’s us as coaches, it’s the other players. It’s all of it.”