The Cowboys have one of the game’s best quarterbacks in Dak Prescott. The issue is that Prescott hasn’t been able to stay healthy for two seasons in a row since the 2018 and 2019 seasons. When he plays, he’s one of the best in the league, flirting with MVP consideration. When he doesn’t, the team tanks. This past offseason, Dallas traded a late-round pick in hopes of finding a young, athletic backup when they acquired second-year man Joe Milton from the New England Patriots.
He didn’t look good initially in the preseason, but Joe Milton’s stock went up based on the final 2025 preseason performance.
It’s time to let Milton play and find out what they have in him. Chances are, the backup is going to be called upon for several games next season, and the staff needs to know what they have in the former Tennessee Volunteer. Milton has appeared in two blowout losses, first to Chicago in Week 3 and then to Denver in Week 8, and has completed 6 of 9 passes for 99 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Give him some extended action over the next three games so that offseason plans can be made accordingly.
The Cowboys’ fifth-round selection had run afoul of the coaching staff since the summer. Rumors ran rampant about whether he was taking his opportunity seriously and his work ethic was questioned. He’s appeared in just four games this season, rushing only 22 times, while being a healthy scratch more often than not.
It’s clear that the coaching staff is not enamored with him, and at a position like running back where a player is the last line of protection for the $60 million quarterback, incompetence and unprofessionalism cannot stand. So while Dak Prescott is under center, the team cannot trot Blue out there.
However, when the team plays the more mobile Milton, they need to have Blue out there the majority of the snaps so that they can see whether he’s one of those guys who practices horribly, but plays at a high level. Perhaps the second chance inspires him to hit the offseason hard and work on the things that were issues this season.
The Cowboys are about to enter what is probably going to be contentious negotiations with WR1A George Pickens and his representative, David Mulugheta. The thinking is that there won’t be bad blood between the organization and the very professional agent of Micah Parsons, who Jerry Jones publicly insulted during those failed negotiations. Good luck with that.
The Cowboys need to know that if Pickens balks, and they have to either tag-and-trade him come March, or let him hit free agency all together, whether or not Flournoy is what he appears to be, a true WR2 solely in need of more opportunity.
Twice this season Flournoy has stepped up in a big way, with 100-yard receiving games during CeeDee Lamb’s absences. The former sixth-round pick hasn’t been asked to do much outside of those two games, only seeing more than three targets four times all season. Feed him the rock. At worst, the Cowboys will know whether or not they have a three-headed monster for 2026.