# Cowboys waive QB Joe Milton

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-31 21:29 UTC · Category: Sports · Sources: 25 · Current Velocity: 76.25

## Executive Summary
Dallas Cowboys cut backup quarterback Joe Milton, reshaping their QB depth chart as Sam Howell steps up.

## Intelligence Brief
The Dallas Cowboys have released backup quarterback Joe Milton, removing him from the team's 53‑man roster. The move eliminates Milton’s chance to compete for playing time this season and frees a roster slot for the Cowboys as they approach Dak Prescott’s 11th year as starter. Milton, a 6‑foot‑5, 236‑pound former Michigan quarterback, is the immediate loser; the club gains flexibility to adjust its depth chart. The decision comes as the roster headroom tightens before training camp. ESPN’s sources echoed the move and highlighted Howell’s promotion to QB2.


Bleacher Report listed potential landing spots for Milton in free agency, and WTOP News added that tackle Broderick Jones will now compete for a starting role. The Cowboys’ official site posted a brief transaction notice confirming the waiver. Several outlets repeated the news within minutes, underscoring the swift consensus across sports media. The roster change introduces a new dynamic: Sam Howell moves into the backup slot, but the Cowboys have not announced a third quarterback, leaving depth questions unresolved. Simultaneously, Broderick Jones’s competition for the starting tackle position adds another layer of uncertainty on the line.


Milton’s release makes him an unrestricted free agent, and analysts note that his market value will depend on team needs during the upcoming free‑agency period. No official statements on his preferred destination were given. Observers will monitor the Cowboys’ next roster move, particularly whether a third quarterback is signed before the season opener. Milton’s agent is likely to field interest from teams seeking a size‑advantaged backup, as suggested by Bleacher Report’s ranking of potential destinations. The outcome of Broderick Jones’s competition for the starting tackle role will also shape the offensive line configuration heading into training camp.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Why did the Cowboys waive Joe Milton?
The Cowboys released Milton, clearing a backup quarterback slot; coverage does not provide a specific rationale beyond roster adjustments.

### Who is set to back up Dak Prescott after Milton’s release?
Sam Howell has been named the new backup quarterback, according to NFL.com and ESPN.

### What are the potential next steps for Milton?
Milton is now an unrestricted free agent, and Bleacher Report lists several possible landing spots for him during the upcoming free‑agency period.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Cowboys, Dallas Cowboys, NFL Season, QB Joe Milton, Cowboys Release QB Joe Milton Ahead of Dak Prescott, Broderick Jones, Cowboys Part Ways With, Ex-Michigan QB

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys Wire | Cowboys QB Joe Milton clears waivers, here's what's next | 2026-09-02 14:26 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0AFBVV95cUxNbVhEU1VSU3RERHR5NXZ0OUpSTUNiMTFMSjNuZS1OSU9oSlMwa1BpSHRqUjNaa1luNk5oREw2WXozTzNwOFFTb2ZqMnZzb2NSN3ZIdUxpcVVQM1JUWW1XM3JpdUhUWnV0UFh1dVBCVEs0LUNyc094SHZHWVNpX3dMRm43dzZjZzlHTVdBY25DV0Z1NzdFeDhmWU1pU05CVXFqVWxRelNIVHk3Tk1EODVZVTBoLUFWSHBOWlE1b2ZQbUhYZTdpcWJOMUFMaWt3aVBN?oc=5) |
| Blogging The Boys | Cowboys news: Joe Milton returns to Dallas | 2026-09-02 14:26 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxQUEprelVUMXNXZUJfTkFDa2poR0Y0a2t1aHdwakQ4UjJQU1hWY0lXWUh2bFotWWN3RDg0RDZfZFRIcnN1UTdGaV9wTGQ0S2hxcHZhUXZfamRJcFNaQ3dKdWpFbEtWQ1VTZVROZWtaRGZNRENnU0JvMk5ZaWpUZVNFbFhENFVzVEZtRjJ6WEtWM3dqU21fTWM5N25uSEhrZUo2NzhqLUtB?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Jerry Jones, Cowboys Re-sign QB Joe Milton After Brian Schottenheimer's Recommendation | 2026-09-02 14:26 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiggFBVV95cUxPU1pZeEtIRm9Db1phRlhFMU0tWW5JV1hrSEs1WFk5RGJXZlQ1TnRha0hsU2pQMlBUVDRqUjc4U1A4TWgxREdWNVpBSEQzb0c5bDJfZHFqcnk1UXpKYkIwajFJaEt0bC1Cek1Fa1lpZm5NMHNXZ3Fza2tqeUVwSEc5eU5R?oc=5) |
| CBS News | Joe Milton rejoins Dallas Cowboys' practice squad after losing backup QB job to Sam Howell | 2026-09-02 14:26 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxQbTJxM1ltaDNpMUxDN1JQaTFOQTJNZXBGQ2FvUnNZcDdUNFNzTnRjbmRVelhFakdDOGVnX2pNUjdsSmR3UDZqbWNrb1dwX3lPUXJhZlhIdk9iblhiZXBMUXVOdjJtdVJMQmR2c3lKT05IbjI2Sy05MGxXa2ZqbVBFN2daU2YxU1FjS0VrZ0hnR0JxUFE5ZzlZdjZIVXlLYzVfY3BPQzFuaHJVUkpmVkxNS0I4X3o?oc=5) |
| Cowboys Wire | Roster Shocker: Cowboys release QB 1 day after cuts in stunning reversal | 2026-09-02 14:26 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi4AFBVV95cUxNZlQ1ZllveWV4ekt2aGpaVEVXTHdlQm9lWnhjNV9xTTNhZ0gwejMyTlg4SDg4eUJ5MTNZTEhKWm5EWGV3ejlqUGNPZmtaelNPMVJJUkZ4NEdVa2txb1lVZnc3cEFnWlVDamlzQTJnNnBPbnZFdjA2cXFZSEtuREZNRF9RZnZJWmlUN0ZuRUNpVTlTcFh5TVZVVjJuakloMy1UbkVFQlJyZWFFdTZhRUluOEpwNDJteE1NRnlWOUtYR2JiVjEzZjh0TFdCQjBIMU9SNG1RN05GV1hPWjgySWs3aw?oc=5) |
| A to Z Sports | The NFL just made a loud statement of what they think of Joe Milton with his landing spot | 2026-09-02 14:26 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi4AFBVV95cUxNalJGaVFXRGZsbzZRdXdQbkY4NDlfX0ViUkJ1dE1KWUgtOXBjc1p6VWxFUTdDQUJDRC1QTGl6eHZ2dDdJTDZCaGYzc0JaMXlING9USFRUSEltRV8xSGpmdXhfMTdDODM5Q1pFcm1KRDZaQVM4eDM2cVRBOURwT01rWFoyblRNTEFfYU5tQTNWY3VfM09qTVlleHM1dHdRV1o5anNKakcxWkFJajd6MXZRUnRMV0hvN2N3Qnh2Z1UzQmlJcFBaTnY2V3otZFo5clZ2X2tUR20tVVlDVDVxd3haTA?oc=5) |
| Pro Football Network | ‘Did Jerry Jones Blackmail the 31 Other Teams?’ – NFL Fans React As Ex-Cowboys QB Joe Milton III Clears Waivers | 2026-09-02 14:26 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxQc2JPUDlWZGJKd3UzdUU5U3J2U3FoNjBpa0dmWVBTSVI4RXFFOEJVdHpadFk3U0kxY0hfU0tTdlJmVC05T3pPMHhEWVF2MWhfZ0tUdGN4VmI4eV91Yml2TkxuUXhWZTRReUF2Y1BEWEFjNk9aLUYzeFlocE9HZHZFNTM3Wlk3MUdjdUloR2lmSUVhMVVfYkFGX3VKaw?oc=5) |
| Sports Illustrated | Dallas Cowboys Insider Suggests Team Balked on Joe Milton Trade Before Waiving Him | 2026-09-01 22:40 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxPY2hCajdEdlgyaG8zcGMxdXNfekF3T3llTFJ2WmNYdHd1Zy1KZlVSMnRBVC1mQ215NmljVFZ1REZTaHlNOVVRbTNkTkdoM1dqNkxvbXBEejFtNDNYRENTalg0MzdNTGFoSHA5YmswekxNYnlHdGpSOHJOcTNiQnhrZ2w3OUtzQVNHUzJrekYtbXhnaFFaU05XbU16RjRlaWxRdXQzWUQ3VzczbkoyQkNPYzdPYWVMZw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Ex-Cowboys QB Joe Milton Gets Another Chance for NFL Career | 2026-09-01 22:40 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifkFVX3lxTE0zVjNFcDJoOFpLaENJTWJHUEsxUzdmLTNJa01jUDdtVVJUaDB0U3JGZ3prdUhQNkppRWllWjBuTGdIMjUydzFwSzRUT1ROU2dQRVpRYU5vRnZiRTZFZzgwZEVsYklVbnBxaEFCTnJ1ak1OTFl4c24wSF9pMHZkZw?oc=5) |
| Dallas Cowboys | Mailbag: Surprised at release of Milton? | 2026-09-01 22:40 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifkFVX3lxTE1qc2V0aktwdmwyMk5KRVQ3ak5RejRVd3dacVBXNUpLelFHdXBCQUd4ZTZ3SmVtQS12OEx6R3U1Wl9saHVWdjZOTVFFa1RiNjNKRUxPRnc4cEI4dWNEX2lFTFBjVU05SURWbERIcHRYY1M1S3VwTlQxNHNNekVLUQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | "Was Focused on the Wrong Things": Real Reason Behind Joe Milton's Shocking Cut Revealed by Cowboys Insider | 2026-09-01 22:40 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxOQ0pOcDMxVGZ5QkEzYmpSMjBIVy05djdjbHBjSWprQVZzM0lXMmFpYjlCcWhYa3UyM1VtRkJGc0hHNnJXUFVXTHVubm1kdkRuaTE0ZUpWM3g2ZlhDQ3JEd0k4YzdIcE5KNmx0RGVXZEg3UU9NNllvNW93ZjZIQnU3ellveG5IX1FK?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Could Joe Milton return to Cowboys? Schottenheimer opens up after 'hard decision' to release QB | 2026-09-01 22:40 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxNR0x6NXlTelBZeUdhZUZNNFR1UE1uclMzV2JvRjBoNTYwTFZRbUZnV1ljSHF6ZlhldVRDbTV4SndDbjU1dnJtWHZUT1VRNURKM0xXcldNUlJuSXB0Q0NnS2JKTkxzZkM2Z2t0ajFIeElXbm90MWlpMGVrT1VlRmxkS0xrUkQ1UnM?oc=5) |
| heavy.com | Cowboys Castoff Joe Milton Gets Career News After Sudden Cut | 2026-09-01 22:40 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxOS0FmZWNzQ2h0Ynk3S0ZMaXp0V3BXakZzYkVpQW9PYzRsN2Nvc2tzaUlHenVLY1JsTVp5WEhzdUhQYXRRZ3FiZlNPdGNuOE9BWHNrMmkwaWx1d2REYmNTYWYwSjViNmstYW1hWTU1Ujd6Uk1tc1Y5ODI3Q0daaDQ1SWZNcw?oc=5) |
| Bleacher Report | Joe Milton Goes Unclaimed On Waivers as Cowboys Eye QB for Practice Squad | 2026-09-01 21:59 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxOYTZGcm9DZFBHZlZTakpabXk2Q2ZDVmFYODNXbUZpVFM3ZTBxQVZDVEt4MXlOOWpZM0Y5ZTFRTDVZM3ZjYjdZVTdabGl3UUxMVlE0SXNzZUxUMktYYkRKem5UczhUTjM3RVpDQmNWQlVhcktxRjZpdjRubnpaTEFnbDhIeF9kbGw5Mm1fenpmQVJ1QlNTTmJMaXJsX2VzcUFha1BKV193ZjJJOV9H?oc=5) |
| NBC Sports | Cowboys sign QB Joe Milton to practice squad | 2026-09-01 21:59 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxNeHZqcS16OE9oT2wwd21NZUpfQ3ozRjRqdDZDN29GbllaNVJseC1uUkZXRFZyb1dMMEtjV3FtSU9zNTFhdFVpN2pxc3NaNmNBRmxzS0xBT0ZVTmxXVzZhUFo1cDNKWGt5bmlsQWhQeUI1aXpVTjRzRXVlWlVjRkoxUlItN2R5NHhDNm42MUdBUHIyMjJKLWpoQkVBeXExdVJ4QkNvU2lQUXk3dw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://www.newsylist.com/trend/2026-08-31/cowboys-waive-qb-joe-milton*
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