The Dallas Cowboys rested Dak Prescott for their preseason matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. Joe Milton III was given the starting assignment instead, and he certainly made the most of the opportunity, helping the Cowboys secure a 34-13 win while drawing plenty of praise from the NFL community.
Cowboys Fans Go Wild as Joe Milton Shines in Second Preseason Game
Milton got the start for the Cowboys against the Cardinals after head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed his role on the pregame show. The quarterback out of Tennessee made the most of his opportunity, putting together an incredible first half that helped Dallas take a 24-6 lead into halftime.
Milton completed 9 of 13 passes for 179 yards and threw two touchdown passes while adding another score on the ground. His biggest play came when he unleashed a 53-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Mingo, showing the powerful arm that has made him such a promising prospect for the Cowboys.
The performance quickly caught the attention of the football fans.
“I will forever love a monster-armed QB,” a fan said.
I will forever love a monster armed QB man. https://t.co/MgWZ6KFdfd
— Lando👨🏻🏭 (@DinkleBurghh) August 23, 2026
“Absolute dime,” another remarked.
Absolute dime https://t.co/vNJnzOXpN7
— Rob Phillips (@robphillips3) August 23, 2026
“Joe Milton is ballin,” The Athletic’s Jon Machota wrote.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
The Cowboys seem like a serious playoff contender after revamping both sides of the ball with promising talents. While Milton has continued to thrive during his preseason opportunities, he remains firmly behind Prescott on the Cowboys’ quarterback depth chart.
However, Milton showed strong composure inside the pocket and consistently made the right decisions on Saturday. He avoided any particularly bad throws and looked comfortable operating the offense.
Milton’s 53-yard touchdown pass to Mingo, combined with his overall performance, left plenty of people excited about what he could potentially offer Dallas.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
“Joe Milton strike while rolling to his left. He’s putting on a SHOW,” ex-NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert wrote.
Joe Milton strike while rolling to his left.
He’s putting on a SHOW. pic.twitter.com/jHHU9owR2A
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) August 23, 2026
“I’ve seen enough… Joe Milton should be starting QB for the Dallas Cowboys this season. Period,” one person wrote.
Milton had already shown promise during the Cowboys’ first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. Sam Howell received the first half in that matchup, while Milton took over for the second half, going 12-of-15 for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Through two preseason halves of football, Milton has completed 21 of 28 passes for 286 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. His tally also includes one rushing touchdown, and he helped lead nine drives that resulted in 31 points.
Dallas now carries a 2-0 preseason record after a 17-7 win at Seattle on Aug. 15.
