Cowboys weigh Milton as Prescott backup and Blue's return in finale

The Dallas Cowboys enter their final preseason game with two clear questions shaping their immediate plans: who will back up Dak Prescott at quarterback and how the young running back corps will emerge behind him. A bumpy start to the slate has left the team weighing Joe Milton’s readiness as the primary backup, while rookie Jaydon Blue has been working back from a bone bruise to prove he belongs in a crowded and unsettled backfield ahead of the regular-season opener.

Milton has taken the field in the first two exhibition games, but the results have raised concerns rather than confidence. He opened against the Los Angeles Rams with a trio of three-and-out drives, and while he showed a strong arm at times, he also forced throws, missed uncovered targets, and failed to spot a free rusher, contributing to a safety in the Baltimore game. In the view of the coaching staff, these are teachable moments rather than terminal flaws, with the head coach emphasizing that the offense must build rhythm more than panicking about the backup quarterback. “For a young quarterback, the important thing is to accumulate plays,” the coach said, noting that Milton has flashed good passes even as an...