Cowboys’ Joe Milton let ‘fastball’ fly in preseason opener vs. Rams; working to make the most of ‘change-up’ extra usually

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Joe Milton was amped Saturday night time in his workforce’s preseason opener on the Los Angeles Rams. Why would not he be?

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer sat a lot of starters, together with Professional Bowl quarterback Dak Prescott, to clear the best way for Milton to marinate. The 25-year-old, getting into his second NFL season in 2025, performed in just one common season sport as a rookie with the New England Patriots final whereas using the bench behind 2024 third total choose quarterback Drake Maye. Milton’s final actual sport motion got here in Week 18 final season towards the Buffalo Bills, which was additionally his NFL debut. He flew excessive that day, powering the Patriots a 23-16 victory over Buffalo by throwing for 241 yards and a landing on 22 of 29 passing along with a 1-yard dashing landing. This effort made him the one Patriots participant for the reason that 1970 AFL/NFL merger with each a passing landing and dashing landing in his NFL debut, in keeping with CBS Sports activities Analysis.

Quick ahead to Saturday night time, and Milton was fired as much as construct upon that efficiency in his first outing along with his new workforce after the Cowboys traded for him this offseason by sending a 2025 fifth-round choose to New England in alternate for the QB and a 2025 seventh-round draft selection. Schottenheimer wished to have Milton get free early, which is why he referred to as cross performs on Dallas’ first three performs from scrimmage. All three have been incompletions. 

Cowboys preseason opener takeaways: Joe Milton has rollercoaster night, defense could use some help

Garrett Podell

Passes ended up being referred to as on the Cowboys’ first performs of the night time, one thing Schottenheimer did not intend to do. Milton accomplished simply one in every of his first six throws for one yard, and Dallas went three-and-out on their first two drives. That allowed the Rams to outgain the Cowboys 160-1 in whole yards on the finish of the primary quarter. Los Angeles racked up 10 first downs to Dallas’ zero as they rushed out to a 14-0 benefit, which ended up being a 31-21 victory for the house workforce. Milton settled in beginning within the second quarter, ending the sport with 143 yards passing, one landing and one interception on 17 of 29 passing. He additionally ran for 22 yards on 5 carries.    

“Second quarter on, I felt nice,” Milton stated postgame. “I feel the blokes round me did a terrific job so far as like simply understanding the performs, understanding what we wished. … It doesn’t matter what, I feel I must settle down quicker, so I can begin rolling within the first quarter. … I used to be very excited [on the first drive]. I feel that is what received me off my tracks, however I really feel like if I used to be to return on the market once more proper now, I might be capable to calm down quicker and make these throws for positive.”

The repair to early-game jitters for a quarterback is straightforward: rack up completions early so as to discover a groove. Milton, whose arm power Schottenheimer has likened to Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre’s, simply must take what the protection provides him extra often earlier within the sport. 

“We have to throw extra completions, he is aware of that,” Schottenheimer stated postgame. … “He had his fastball out at present, and there is occasions that you simply received to form of throw somewhat little bit of a change up. … A part of staying in rhythm and a part of me and Joe being on the identical web page as a result of I am the play caller is simply executing the offense. Taking issues when it isn’t there. Once you get moved off the spot verify it down. However what a terrific studying expertise for Joe. The man hasn’t performed a ton of soccer in actual conditions like this the place he is getting hit. … I am nonetheless studying him as nicely when it comes to his playstyle.”

Milton’s interception was a textbook instance of the place taking the checkdown would have paid main dividends for each he and the Cowboys. In Tuesday’s joint observe towards the Rams, he and broad receiver Jalen Brooks generated essentially the most explosive play for Dallas’ offense, a passing touchdown of over 60 yards. He tried to return to drink from that very same nicely early within the second half, however this time his supposed goal was Ryan Flournoy. Additionally, Flournoy was smothered in double protection. Milton’s throw was simply to the left of Flournoy, which allowed Los Angeles security Cam Lampkin to choose his throw off. 

“He is received a checkdown in entrance, extremely aggressive. He is shifting left, and threw it up there. He is trusting Flo in that state of affairs and attempting to make a play,” Schottenheimer stated. “I feel that that is one of many issues that when Joe watches, he’ll be like ‘yeah, I in all probability ought to have taken the checkdown. I received moved off my launch level.’ Once more, that is why he must play.”  

When moments like that went down, Prescott would look to tug Milton apart and assist him get resettled. 

“Simply be calm, take the completions,” Milton stated of Prescott’s recommendation. “As soon as I took these two completions within the second quarter, issues began rolling. So simply take completions and simply let all of it come to me.”

Shifting on is difficult, but it surely’s additionally Milton’s largest takeaway from his rollercoaster trip of a Saturday night time in Southern California. 

“Simply flushing among the drives I had and with the ability to come again and simply be myself,” Milton stated. “I really feel like an important half was once I got here again to the sideline. The fellows that saved me up, that actually know me from the offseason coaching that we did, the offseason bonding. They actually know me, in order that they saved me up. It doesn’t matter what it was, they only actually saved cheering me on for positive.”

That stated, the 25-year-old will seemingly be stewing over his efficiency towards the Rams till Monday when he goes via a movie session along with his Cowboys coaches and teammates. Milton additionally is not ready to listen to how Schottenheimer and the teaching employees would assess his efficiency after watching the tape again: he is giving himself an almost failing grade. 

“I really feel like if I used to be grading myself, positively a D, in all probability a D- if I am being laborious on myself,” Milton stated. … “I simply received to calm down early and simply make all these throws. … For me being a competitor, it will sit with me all night time and doubtless within the morning, however as soon as we pull that movie up, flush it after that and prepare for subsequent week.” 

Going ahead, Schottenheimer’s Cowboys will proceed to play “with a 7 iron many of the preseason” and run a really primary, vanilla scheme in order to not reveal who Dallas is when it comes to X’s and O’s in his first yr in cost. Whereas some gamers may really feel handcuffed by a watered down playbook, Milton feels prefer it’s a really perfect arrange going ahead within the preseason with each his offensive linemen and cross catchers generally altering by the drive. 

“I would not say it is troublesome. I really feel prefer it’s extra simplifying, lets you execute at a excessive degree,” Milton stated. “Clearly, I did not begin off at a excessive degree, however as the sport progressed, issues began to choose up. Performs began to occur. I really feel like once you simplify the offense and the sport plan, particularly within the preseason game, it helps guys get open. Helps guys get in the appropriate place at a quick place.”

Milton’s standing going ahead

The rocket-armed quarterback did try of the sport late after getting hit on the elbow, however each Milton and Schottenheimer confirmed that incident will not have an effect on the 25-year-old going ahead. 

“He received hit on the elbow. Preliminary checks are that he’ll be OK, somewhat little bit of a bruise,” Schottenheimer stated. “We’ll get some extra checks. … I feel Joe goes to be OK.”

“Oh, I really feel good, simply get somewhat remedy within the morning, I will be alright,” Milton stated. … “I feel one in every of their gamers hit my elbow. It was in all probability one in every of my humorous bone moments. I do not know to be trustworthy, however I will be good.”