INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Cowboys fell to the Los Angeles Rams 31-21 in their 2025 preseason opener on the road at Sofi Stadium.
It was the debut for second-year quarterback Joe Milton, who had highs and lows in his first game in a Cowboys uniform. Ultimately, Milton finished the day completing 17 of his 29 passes for 143 yards to go along with a touchdown and an interception. On the ground, he added five carries for 22 yards and left the game early with an elbow injury that isn't considered to be serious.
Here's more on Milton's performance and some other notable points from the Cowboys' first action of the 2025 season:
It was an up and down day for second-year quarterback Joe Milton in his Cowboys debut. Details on Milton's elbow injury, Brian Schottenheimer's head coaching debut and more following a 31-21 loss to the Rams in the preseason opener.

Joe Milton – In his first game with the Cowboys, Joe Milton had an up and down day. The ups including a nine-play, 73 yard drive capped off by a touchdown to Rivaldo Fairweather, and the lows including an interception thrown into double coverage and an injury to his elbow that caused him to leave the game earlier than the Cowboys staff wanted him too. After admittedly starting the game a little bit amped up causing some misplaced throws, Milton feels like he settle in but wants to get to that point earlier.
"If I was grading myself, definitely a D. Probably a D-minus if I'm being hard on myself," Milton said of his performance. "The guys around me did a great job, especially from the o-line standpoint, they were blocking their butt off. And then the receivers in tight ends, they were doing their assignments at a high level. I just got to settle down early and make all those throws."

Brian Schottenheimer - Saturday was an emotional day for Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer. After 30 years of waiting for his chance, he finally got to lead a team onto the field as a head coach. Even though it was just a preseason game, he and owner/GM Jerry Jones shared a moment that brought some tears to Schottenheimer's face ahead of kickoff.
"I got a little bit choked up coming to the stadium…" Schottenheimer said. "It's been a dream of mine to be in this chair."

Malik Davis – After being a free agent less than 48 hours ago, Malik Davis returned to Oxnard and got just one walk through practice under his belt after signing with the Cowboys ahead of Saturday's preseason opener. And yet, he lead the Cowboys in rushing with 63 yards on seven carries, good for nine yards a carry. After spending the last two years on the Cowboys practice squad, going out and having the performance he did on such short notice was a big confidence boost for Davis.
"It's a great feeling when you're able to go out there and put on a great performance for your teammates, coaches, and most of all just proving it to myself like I belong here and I'm supposed to be here." Davis said.

Will Grier – Initially, the Cowboys weren't planning on playing Will Grier at all in their preseason opener against the Rams. Then, just like earlier in the week in their joint practice, Joe Milton suffered an injury and Grier was thrown out to lead the offense. He responded accordingly, completing two of his three passes for 24 yards and adding an eight-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
"He just knows how to play the game. We're really excited for him…" Brian Schottenheimer said of Grier. "A guy that maximizes reps like that, you couldn't be happier for him."

Rivaldo Fairweather – In a day where undrafted free agent rookies got a lot of time on the field, tight end Rivaldo Fairweather headlined them all by hauling in Joe Milton's first Cowboys touchdown pass in the back corner of the end zone.
"I used to dream of being in the NFL and in my first game, I catch a touchdown, it's just all God right there," said Fairweather, who said the touchdown was just on aspect of what he calls a productive day. "Yeah, definitely I feel like I had a very successful game. My blocking, my hand-placement technique and run game and also special teams is big in the NFL. I'm just grateful for the opportunity."
Fairweather, an undrafted free agent from Auburn, led the team in receptions with three, totaling 18 yards and the 7-yard touchdown. He played the majority of the game with the Cowboys banged up at tight end, playing without Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford and Princeton Fant.
![CeeDee Lamb – In a bizarre moment on a deep pass down the sideline in front of the Cowboys bench, an official collided with CeeDee Lamb, who had stepped too far out in front of the sideline. It was a arguably the biggest hit of the entire night, but both Lamb and the official were okay. Lamb was however assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and it was one that softened the blow to the Rams' defense after pass interference was called against them, which would have put the Cowboys offense in the red zone. It was one of 11 penalties the Cowboys committed on Saturday night, and Brian Schottenheimer wants to see more discipline from his team and star receiver.
"We got to be better with discipline. I hope the [official] is okay…" Schottenheimer said. "We have to be better than that. CeeDee knows better, we know better."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cowboys/lfsrvvvvcb1ij4phhxzm.jpg)
CeeDee Lamb – In a bizarre moment on a deep pass down the sideline in front of the Cowboys bench, an official collided with CeeDee Lamb, who had stepped too far out in front of the sideline. It was a arguably the biggest hit of the entire night, but both Lamb and the official were okay. Lamb was however assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and it was one that softened the blow to the Rams' defense after pass interference was called against them, which would have put the Cowboys offense in the red zone. It was one of 11 penalties the Cowboys committed on Saturday night, and Brian Schottenheimer wants to see more discipline from his team and star receiver.
"We got to be better with discipline. I hope the [official] is okay…" Schottenheimer said. "We have to be better than that. CeeDee knows better, we know better."