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Milton Shines as Cowboys Rout Cardinals 34-13 in Preseason

PUBLISHED Aug 23, 2026, 4:01 AM ET

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Sources: 31

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Sources: 31

Quarterback Joe Milton recorded two touchdown passes and one rushing score to guide the Dallas Cowboys to a 34-13 preseason victory over the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Milton, competing with Sam Howell for the backup position behind Dak Prescott, completed 9 of 13 pass attempts for 176 yards. During the first half, Milton connected with wide receiver Jonathan Mingo on a 53-yard touchdown pass and threw a 70-yard completion to Camden Brown, which set up a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Milton. The Cowboys established a 24-6 halftime lead. Sam Howell played the second half, completing 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards with one interception. Arizona quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 19 of 23 passes for 177 yards. Cowboys cornerback Shavon Revel recorded an interception, while Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Cowboys safety Julius Wood exited due to injuries. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer noted that evaluations continue ahead of their next game against New Orleans.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

On August 18, 2024, New England Patriots drafted quarterback Joe Milton III in the sixth round.
On August 22, 2026, Joe Milton starred in preseason matchup against Arizona Cardinals.
On August 22, 2026, Dallas Cowboys secured a commanding 34-13 exhibition win over Arizona.
On August 22, 2026, Gardner Minshew completed 19 of 23 passes for 177 yards.
On August 22, 2026, Sam Howell completed seven of ten passes with one interception.
On August 22, 2026, Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur addressed recurring penalty issues postgame.
On August 23, 2026, coaching staffs reviewed player performance data to finalize roster cuts.
On August 30, 2026, NFL teams must trim active rosters down to 53 players.
In September 2026, the regular season commences with backup quarterback roles officially locked.
In February 2027, successful franchise backups could potentially vie for starting opportunities.

News Intelligence

Immediate US impact: Joe Milton strengthens bid for Cowboys backup quarterback roster spot.
Possible long-term US impact: Strong preseason depth indicators impact long-term NFC roster constructions.
Most affected groups: Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals coaching staffs and roster hopefuls.
Reader Priorities: Track official team injury reports and depth chart announcements closely.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 31
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 31

Explain Framing

Left: Emphasizes systemic roster development and organizational evaluation metrics comprehensively. Center: Highlights standard game stats, player metrics, and coaching quotes neutrally. Right: Focuses heavily on competitive individual battles and star player performances directly.