Cowboys' Joe Milton Gives Himself a 'D-Minus' Grade After Preseason Start vs. Rams

Joe Milton believes he wasn't at his best during the Dallas Cowboys' preseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday.

The quarterback gave himself a "D-Minus" after completing 17-of-29 passes for 143 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

“D, probably a D minus if I’m being hard on myself," Milton told reporters. "…I just gotta settle down early and make all those throws.”

Milton, a sixth-round pick out of Tennessee in 2024, landed with the Cowboys this offseason when Dallas sent a seventh-round pick to the New England Patriots. He will presumably serve as Dak Prescott's backup under center this season.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer agreed that Milton has work to do, specifically noting a play in which Milton, who is known for his cannon of an arm, launched a ball into double coverage rather than taking a checkdown, resulting in an interception.

Schottenheimer also emphasized the importance of Milton getting reps in preseason to help settle him down.

“Second and (seven), he’s got a checkdown in front of him,” Schottenheimer told reporters. “Ultra-competitive, he was moving left, and he threw it up there. Now, he’s trusting (Flournoy) in that situation to try to make a play. I think that’s one of the things when Joe watches it that he’ll be like, ‘Yeah, I probably should have taken the checkdown. I got moved off the launch point.’

“That’s why he needs to play. I do think he settled down. He found his rhythm late, started using his legs a little better. Terrific talent. Every rep he gets is going to help him become a great pro.”

The Cowboys face the Baltimore Ravens in their second preseason game on Saturday, where Milton will get the chance to get more crucial reps ahead of the season.