Aug 22, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III (10) reacts during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Aug 22, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III (10) reacts during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The New York Giants opened their season with a statement win over the Dallas Cowboys, riding Jaxson Dart‘s historic day to a 28-20 victory. Three weeks later, the rookie’s promising start has hit a serious setback. A brutal hit against the Los Angeles Rams left Dart facing surgery, and now speculation is swirling around Cowboys backup Joe Milton. What the Giants actually do next might surprise fans on both sidelines.
Joe Milton speculation grows as Giants face a QB crisis
Dart’s rookie season was humming until Monday night. He completed just three passes for 20 yards before a hit from Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart buckled his left knee, forcing him out of a 28-6 loss to the Rams. What first looked like a sprained MCL turned graver after follow-up testing, and the team is now weighing season-ending surgery.
Jameis Winston stepped in and struggled, completing 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards with an interception. Still, coach John Harbaugh has expressed confidence in his backup and plans to lean on him while the staff sorts out a longer-term answer at quarterback.
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Aug 9, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III (10) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Josaiah Stewart (41) in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Giants are already exploring interesting QB options with Jaxson Dart is unlikely to suit up again before Week 5 at the earliest, and possibly not at all in 2026. Even Eli Manning has weighed in on his relationship with Dart, a reminder of how closely the franchise is watching his recovery.
That uncertainty has fans scanning the roster and waiver markets for help, and one name keeps surfacing: Dallas Cowboys backup Joe Milton.
Anderson wrote Thursday the Giants “had not yet reached out on the services of” Milton, cooling the chatter, at least for now.
As of early afternoon today, the NY #Giants had not yet reached out on the services of #Cowboys QB Joe Milton, per sources.
Milton is on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. pic.twitter.com/zHWlfDqP4J
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 24, 2026
Giants’ pursuit of Joe Milton remains just talk
Milton remains on Dallas’s practice squad, a spot that lets any team sign him straight to its 53-man roster without sending back compensation.
He would need to stay on that roster at least three weeks under the rule, but it would cost New York zero draft capital. Dallas, though, isn’t eager to let him walk. Jerry Jones gave Milton a strong vote of confidence before the season even began, a sign the Cowboys still see him as part of their future.
Jul 22, 2025; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko talks with quarterbacks Joe Milton III (10), Dak Prescott (4) and Will Grier (15) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesJul 22, 2025; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko talks with quarterbacks Joe Milton III (10), Dak Prescott (4) and Will Grier (15) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jul 22, 2025; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko talks with quarterbacks Joe Milton III (10), Dak Prescott (4) and Will Grier (15) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
That hasn’t stopped outside voices from pushing New York to make a move anyway. Former Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes pushed hardest for the move.
“The Giants need to go get Joe Milton off the Cowboys practice squad,” Tynes said flatly. “He fits what they want to do and adds the mobility element needed to make this offense go. He will cost zero draft capital.”
Not everyone agrees it solves anything, though. ESPN’s Kyle Brandt questioned whether Milton would actually outplay Winston right now, and Anderson’s sourcing suggests the front office isn’t rushing into anything either way.
For now, Winston remains under center as New York hosts the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Milton stays a Cowboy, and the Giants have made no formal move. Whether that changes before Week 4 remains one of the NFC East’s more interesting subplots.
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