The Dallas Cowboys’ preseason is supposed to be a proving ground, but instead it has become a frustrating blur for receivers tied to rookie quarterback Joe Milton . His erratic throws and stalled drives aren’t just hurting his own reputation — they’re endangering the chances of wideouts fighting to make the roster. In a league where careers hinge on a handful of plays, Milton’s inconsistency is creating collateral damage that could shape Dallas’ September.
Accuracy issues cloud evaluation processMilton, acquired in April from New England after the Patriots drafted him in the sixth round of 2024, has shown the big arm that once intrigued scouts. But across two preseason games, the flaws have outweighed the flashes. Against the Ravens, he managed only 2-of-8 passing for 14 yards in a disastrous first half that included an interception and a sack for a safety. His final line improved to 9-of-18 for 122 yards, but the early chaos defined the night.
A week earlier, in his debut against the Rams, Milton’s 17-for-29 stat line looked steady until examined closely: 143 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a bruised elbow. The numbers hid late reads and balls sailing high. For receivers on the bubble, those misfires meant lost reps and wasted auditions.
Wideouts paying the price for QB chaosFor fringe receivers, preseason is not just a showcase — it’s survival. Yet instead of contested catches or yards after contact, Cowboys wideouts have been left running precise patterns with little payoff. Coaches can evaluate separation and effort, but without catchable passes, players battling for WR4 or WR5 roles are being judged in incomplete conditions. It’s a quiet injustice: some careers may end not because of poor performance, but because the ball never reached their hands.
Coaches defend Milton, but frustration bubblesHead coach Brian Schottenheimer has publicly downplayed panic. “I wouldn’t say I’m concerned,” he said after the Ravens game, pointing to protection breakdowns and Milton’s learning curve. But locker room patience is not infinite. Each stalled drive forces the defense back on the field, while receivers privately grumble about wasted opportunities. The calm words at the podium clash with the urgency felt inside the huddle.
The Trey Lance ghost and the Dak questionMilton’s struggles have also revived uncomfortable comparisons. The Cowboys traded away Trey Lance, only to see him flash promise with the Chargers this preseason, throwing for 121 yards and running for 25 against the Rams. At the same time, Dak Prescott’s contract — restructured in March after a $240 million extension — keeps his long-term role in the spotlight. If Milton was meant as a developmental safety net, his rocky outings have exposed how fragile that plan truly is.
Final word: Stakes beyond the box scoreDallas will argue preseason is about growth, but for receivers fighting for NFL futures, growth without results is meaningless. Milton’s scattershot play is stealing their chance to be judged on merit, not circumstance. Unless the Cowboys intervene, they risk entering September not only with questions at QB2, but with a roster thinned of talent that never got a fair trial.
Also read: Giants rookie Abdul Carter brutally flattened in viral ‘welcome to the NFL’ moment that shocks fans
Accuracy issues cloud evaluation processMilton, acquired in April from New England after the Patriots drafted him in the sixth round of 2024, has shown the big arm that once intrigued scouts. But across two preseason games, the flaws have outweighed the flashes. Against the Ravens, he managed only 2-of-8 passing for 14 yards in a disastrous first half that included an interception and a sack for a safety. His final line improved to 9-of-18 for 122 yards, but the early chaos defined the night.
joe milton is living proof that having a strong arm means literally nothing in the NFL pic.twitter.com/XiNJdAWAUO
— j 🦅 (@JoelBleedsGreen) August 16, 2025
A week earlier, in his debut against the Rams, Milton’s 17-for-29 stat line looked steady until examined closely: 143 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a bruised elbow. The numbers hid late reads and balls sailing high. For receivers on the bubble, those misfires meant lost reps and wasted auditions.
Wideouts paying the price for QB chaosFor fringe receivers, preseason is not just a showcase — it’s survival. Yet instead of contested catches or yards after contact, Cowboys wideouts have been left running precise patterns with little payoff. Coaches can evaluate separation and effort, but without catchable passes, players battling for WR4 or WR5 roles are being judged in incomplete conditions. It’s a quiet injustice: some careers may end not because of poor performance, but because the ball never reached their hands.
Coaches defend Milton, but frustration bubblesHead coach Brian Schottenheimer has publicly downplayed panic. “I wouldn’t say I’m concerned,” he said after the Ravens game, pointing to protection breakdowns and Milton’s learning curve. But locker room patience is not infinite. Each stalled drive forces the defense back on the field, while receivers privately grumble about wasted opportunities. The calm words at the podium clash with the urgency felt inside the huddle.
The Trey Lance ghost and the Dak questionMilton’s struggles have also revived uncomfortable comparisons. The Cowboys traded away Trey Lance, only to see him flash promise with the Chargers this preseason, throwing for 121 yards and running for 25 against the Rams. At the same time, Dak Prescott’s contract — restructured in March after a $240 million extension — keeps his long-term role in the spotlight. If Milton was meant as a developmental safety net, his rocky outings have exposed how fragile that plan truly is.
Final word: Stakes beyond the box scoreDallas will argue preseason is about growth, but for receivers fighting for NFL futures, growth without results is meaningless. Milton’s scattershot play is stealing their chance to be judged on merit, not circumstance. Unless the Cowboys intervene, they risk entering September not only with questions at QB2, but with a roster thinned of talent that never got a fair trial.
Also read: Giants rookie Abdul Carter brutally flattened in viral ‘welcome to the NFL’ moment that shocks fans
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