Why Joe Milton replaced Dak Prescott vs Broncos. Explaining Cowboys' stunning move

Dak Prescott was sidelined vs the Denver Broncos on Sunday, and not because of an injury.

Updated on: Oct 27, 2025, 06:03:27 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Dak Prescott was sidelined vs the Denver Broncos on Sunday, and not because of an injury. As the Dallas Cowboys lost 44-24 in Week 8, head coach Mike McCarthy decided to sit his starting quarterback and give backup Joe Milton some late-game reps.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) drops back to pass in the second half against the Denver Broncos (AP)

Milton, who joined Dallas in an offseason trade from the New England Patriots, has served as QB2 since replacing Cooper Rush. Sunday marked one of his first real chances to take the field in a regular-season game. And he didn’t waste it.

On his opening drive, the rookie showed off the cannon arm that made him a draft-day intrigue, connecting with Jalen Tolbert on a 35-yard touchdown strike that cut through Denver’s secondary. It was a brief but impressive glimpse of his potential.

There’s no quarterback controversy in Dallas. Prescott remains the clear starter, especially after earning MVP-level praise earlier in the week from analyst Greg Ross, who called him “the MVP” entering Week 8 of the 2025 season.

Milton’s late-game cameo wasn’t about replacing Prescott - it was about protecting him. With the game out of reach, McCarthy opted to preserve his star for the stretch ahead.

Prescott, who was facing heat all along the game, was 19-for-31 for 188 yards passing, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. Meanwhile, Broncos QB Bo Nix led them on four TD drives for a 27-10 halftime lead, and his second TD toss to Troy Franklin made it 37-17. His 5-yarder to Harvey made it 44-17. He was 19 of 29 for 247 yards with the four TDs and one interception.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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