FRISCO, Texas — For the first time in a very long time, there's a very real excitement in the air surrounding the battle for the right to serve as immediate understudy to Dak Prescott. While Cooper Rush, now departed for the Baltimore Ravens in free agency, served as a stabilizing hand for years at QB2, the addition of Joe Milton via trade this offseason generated a spark of some sort.
After all, there simply was no uprooting Rush, a reality even former third-overall pick Trey Lance discovered after arriving in Dallas via trade, but Milton finds himself absent that challenge — his primary task being to combat Will Grier for the seat.
Speaking from the team's OTAs, as veterans report, Brian Schottenheimer is already offering high praise for what he's seeing from Milton.
"So excited about Joe," said the Cowboys' head coach and offensive play caller. "I was excited about Joe before we got him. We all reach out to people that you know. People that you trust, people that have been exposed to said player in college, in different programs, friends that have been around him to this day. … From the time he's been here. The work ethic is incredible."
Combining such an intense work ethic with a skillset that includes being exceptionally athletic on the ground and with having a cannon for an arm truly has Schottenheimer and the Cowboys ecstatic at the opportunity to help him develop going forward.
It's something Milton prides himself on.
"Go out there and execute the way you will if you were in college or high school," he said after initially landing in Dallas. "And then the way that you prepare, your preparation is very important. Always prepare as if you're the starter and then go out there and execute when your name is called."
It is not going unnoticed within the locker room and coaching staff.
"He's one of the first people in the building," Schottenheimer said. "He's one of the last to leave. The way he's attacked the playbook and how he's picking it up is incredible, and it's been fun for me to watch Dak and Will [Grier] take a mentorship role with Joe."
Up next for Milton, following the conclusion of OTAs next week, will be mandatory minicamp; and he'll then have an opportunity to prepare himself for the biggest test to come: training camp and preseason games, the latter expected to see him receive huge chunks of playing time for development and evaluation.
"The talent speaks for itself," said Schottenheimer. "He's made some incredible throws [already]. He's an amazing prospect and I think the sky's the limit for him."
So far, it doesn't sound like Milton is your average Joe.
