Joe Milton continued to impress in his bid to secure the backup quarterback position for the Dallas Cowboys, throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for another in a 34-13 victory against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night.
Milton, a third-year player, completed 9 of 13 passes for 176 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown to Jonathan Mingo and a 70-yard strike to Camden Brown, which set up his own 1-yard touchdown run. Coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged Milton's strong performance but noted that the competition for the backup role against Sam Howell is ongoing, stating, "This is long from over."
The Cowboys established a commanding 24-6 lead by halftime, with Jaydon Blue contributing 75 rushing yards on 15 carries. Howell, who started all 17 games for Washington last season, completed 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards in the second half but threw an interception in the end zone.
On the defensive side, Cowboys cornerback Shavon Revel intercepted a pass from Arizona's Gardner Minshew, returning it 22 yards to set up Milton's first touchdown pass. Revel, in his second season with the Cowboys, was drafted in the third round in 2025. The Cowboys' defense also featured rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham, who recorded an early tackle for loss.
The Cardinals faced challenges throughout the game, including two touchdowns being nullified due to penalties on receiver Rivaldo Fairweather. Arizona settled for field goals instead, with Chad Ryland kicking a 38-yarder and a 31-yarder.
