The Dallas Cowboys saw enough of Cooper Rush in the 2024 season to be ready to turn the page to an option with a higher upside. With Dak Prescott missing a big chunk last season, the organization was given a special appreciation of having a far more reliable backup.
This led to the trade for Joe Milton with the New England Patriots. Setting up a competition with Milton and Will Grier for the second and third roles behind Prescott. However, it seems things are off to a rocky start with Milton struggling in his first camp appearance with the Cowboys.
According to the latest report, Milton struggled to throw the ball consistently, and the offense turned the ball over at an alarming rate. In many ways, this isn't unexpected for a young quarterback who was a rough prospect coming out of college.
One year with an iffy coaching staff in New England isn't going to fix the myriad of issues Milton needed to fix at the next level. The enticing part of adding the young quarterback is the ceiling he flashed when put in relief of Drake Maye in the season's final game.
Cowboys Quarterback Joe Milton Struggles in Underwhelming Debut
With this in mind, fans shouldn't be overly concerned when it comes to training camp reps. We've seen meaningful snaps from Milton where the quarterback was playing at a high level. The ability is there; it is simply finding out how to unlock it. There is also the important factor of the quarterback needing to build chemistry with new teammates and learn an entirely new offense. How the Cowboys call a game is incredibly different compared to the quarterback's rookie season.
All of this adds up to Dallas fans having little reason for concern this early in the season. We are yet to reach the first preseason game, and Milton is still attempting to learn how to communicate the offense and anticipate new players. Playing the quarterback position changes drastically in each offense, and this is difficult to adapt to, even for experienced veterans. Much less for a second-year player who was already a rough prospect.
Still, Dallas fans have reasons for excitement when you consider Milton's ability to create with his legs and a cannon for an arm that allows any deep throw to be made. Parting ways with Rush was the right decision and allowed for a higher ceiling if Milton goes down again. Leaving no question, the frustrating start for camp isn't yet a cause for legitimate concerns.