The Dallas Cowboys' backup quarterback job has been a touchy subject amid Joe Milton's struggles over the first two preseason games.
There's been a lot of discourse about whether Dallas should strike another trade for a veteran so that Milton can spend the season learning as the third-stringer. With speculation mounting, Milton needed to bounce back in Friday's preseason finale, and he did just that.
So much so that the Cowboys pulled him midway through the third quarter. That would seem to indicate they are pleased with his progress and are ready to announce him as QB2.
Cowboys all but declare Joe Milton their backup QB in preseason finale
Is it possible that Dallas wanted to give Will Grier enough snaps to potentially challenge for the backup job? We suppose, but it's important to remember that Milton played all but five snaps in the first preseason game and all but eight snaps in the second week of preseason.
It feels significant that he was pulled before the fourth quarter on Friday in what was comfortably his best performance.
Milton finished 10-of-18 for 132 yards and one touchdown to zero interceptions, equating to a 97.5 passer rating. He added four carries for 33 yards and a TD on the ground.
The box score looks strong, but the second-year pro played calm, which is an oxymoron in this case because he sped his process up significantly. But that allowed him to play on schedule, which was a major issue in his first two starts.
When Brian Schotteheimer announced Milton as the starter for the final game, he stressed that the 25-year-old old needs reps. Schottenheimer made it clear the team needed to see more from Milton, and yet he was taken out with a lot of time left.
If Milton was playing for the backup job on Friday, he all but secured it. Sure, it was against second- and third-stringers, but he played on time and within the offense. Even if he’s not fully ready for regular-season action, he showed enough to earn those reps anyway.
Furthermore, Grier didn't show anything special after he subbed in. It would be a major surprise at this point if Milton isn't named the backup.
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