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Joe Milton III gets the start on Saturday.

For the Dallas Cowboys, the Micah Parsons contract situation has been the main drama of the preseason. But there have been more traditional, on-the-field controversies as well — perhaps none more heated than who rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer will select to be the backup quarterback behind nine-year veteran, three-time Pro Bowl selection Dak Prescott.

But with an announcement made on Thursday, Schottenheimer gave a pretty strong clue as to which way he’s leaning.

Milton vs. Grier in Battle For Backup Job

The two candidates are Joe Milton III, in the second year of the four-year, $4.2 million rookie contract he signed with the New England Patriots, who drafted him with the 196th overall pick in 2024 — and Will Grier.

Grier was a third round Carolina Panthers pick in 2019, but has made a career as a practice squad quarterback with six different teams, including two stints with Dallas.

Grier did start two games for Carolina in his rookie season, both losses, completing 28 of 52 passes for 228 yards and an unfortunate total of four interceptions.

Milton Has Yet to Start an Official NFL Game

Milton has yet to start an official NFL game, and has appeared in only one — Week 18 last season for the Patriots against the Buffalo Bills. In that outing, Milton made a strong impression, completing 22 of 29 for 241 yards and touchdown. Milton also ran for a touchdown and four first downs in New England’s 23-16 victory.

Milton got the start in the Cowboys’ first preseason game, a 31-21 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, and gave what one commentator called a “Jekyll and Hyde” performance.

“The second-year quarterback was all over the place early, misfiring on all cylinders, but then settled down late in the third quarter,” wrote Dan Rogers of Blogging the Boys. “The team would love to see less of the ugly stuff and more of the latter.”

Schottenheimer Makes Decision on Saturday Starter

They will get their chance. Schottenheimer announced that Milton on Saturday will get the start in the second Dallas preseason game as well, a home game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Grier saw very little action in the preseason opener, but despite appearances, Schottenheimer claimed that his announcement should not be read as a decision on which of the two candidates will win the backup quarterback job.

“I need to get to learn him as the play-caller,” the coach said of Milton, as quoted by Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “I don’t need to learn Dak. I feel like I don’t really need to learn Will. So it’s more of that, it’s more of me having to learn Joe. I’m not going to say who the backup running back is right now, who the backup quarterback is right now, because I don’t have to make those decisions yet.”

Milton Vows to Calm Down in Second Preseason Start

Milton attributed his uneven outing in the August 9 preseason opener to his over-excitement at getting the chance to showcase his abilities.

“Second quarter on, I felt great,” Milton said after the game, as quoted by CBS Sports. “No matter what, I think I need to calm down faster, so I can start rolling in the first quarter. I was very excited. I think that’s what got me off my tracks, but I feel like if I was to go back out there again right now, I’d be able to settle down faster and make those throws for sure.”

The 6-foot-5 inch, 246 pound Milton so far in his young career has been best known for his extreme athleticism and rocket arm — an arm that may be the strongest in the NFL — than for his achievements on the field.

He will get another chance to change that perception on Saturday at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

Jonathan Vankin JONATHAN VANKIN is an award-winning journalist and writer who now covers baseball and other sports for Heavy.com. He twice won New England Press Association awards for sports feature writing. He was a sports editor and writer at The Daily Yomiuri in Tokyo, Japan, covering Japan Pro Baseball, boxing, sumo and other sports. More about Jonathan Vankin