Dallas Cowboys Shake Up Quarterback Depth Chart, Claim Running Back

Just one day after establishing their initial 53-man roster, the Dallas Cowboys made a significant adjustment to their quarterback room. The team waived quarterback Joe Milton III to clear a spot for running back Emari Demercado, who was claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs. This move concludes the competition for the backup role, naming Sam Howell as the primary signal-caller behind starter Dak Prescott.

Milton’s release comes as a surprise after he appeared to be securing the QB2 position earlier in the offseason. However, his performance in the final exhibition against New Orleans was surpassed by Howell, prompting the Cowboys to pivot. With Howell now firmly in the backup role, the team prioritized adding depth to the backfield by acquiring Demercado. To facilitate the move, Dallas released Milton and has two remaining open spots on their practice squad, though Milton cannot be added to that list until he clears waivers on Tuesday afternoon.

The Cowboys also made other changes to their running back corps, waiving Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. The Philadelphia Eagles subsequently claimed Blue. In explaining the decision to bring in Demercado, head coach Brian Schottenheimer cited offensive coordinator Klayton Adams’ familiarity with the player from their time together in Arizona.

The team’s media rights and content distribution are managed through various segments of Comcast Corporation, the parent company of NBCUniversal. The broadcast landscape for NFL games remains a critical component of the sports media business. Shares of Comcast Corporation were trading at $26.50 during the session, reflecting a market capitalization of approximately $94.3 billion.

What to watch

• Updates on whether Joe Milton III clears waivers and joins the Dallas practice squad.
• Emari Demercado’s integration into the offensive scheme and special teams units.
• Scheduled earnings reports and guidance from Comcast Corporation regarding viewership numbers.

Source: original release