Dak Prescott will play in Dallas Cowboys’ finale; Joe Milton ‘prepared’ for reps
After the Dallas Cowboys’ Christmas Day win over the Washington Commanders on Thursday, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he would enjoy the holiday before making a determination or announcement on if quarterback Dak Prescott would play in the season finale against the New York Giants.
On Monday, he made it official by saying his starter will finish what he started with his 17th start.
“Yeah, we plan on finishing strong and having Dak play,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, we get a chance to go 5-1, hopefully, in the division, finish 8-8-1, and that’s the plan as we’re looking at now.”
Despite taking six sacks against the Commanders, Prescott will get to finish off his 10th season by starting in every game — a feat he’s accomplished five times in nine previous seasons.
Now, whether he plays the entire game is a completely separate discussion. When asked if backup quarterback Joe Milton III could see time, Schottenheimer left the possibility open.
“We’ll look at that,” Schottenheimer said. “The biggest thing for me is to put the game plan together and hopefully have another great week of practice and focus on getting our prep. You know how much respect I have for this team, this defense we’re getting ready to play, an elite front seven. We’ll see how the week goes, but right now the plan is to play Dak.”
Milton was in a similar situation last season with the New England Patriots in Week 18. After Drake Maye earned the start, Milton came in for the second drive and finished the game. He went 22-for-29 for 241 yards and two total touchdowns. However, Milton views this situation as a bit different heading into the week of prep, as he said he hasn’t learned one way or another if he will play.
“Not really, it’s a different situation,” Milton said. “[I’ll prepare] the same like I do every other week. I’ve been the two the whole season. It’s been a progression from last year being the three, the emergency quarterback. Being the two, I wanted to make sure I was ready for every game just in case a shoelace gets untied or whatever it may be. I’ll be ready, for sure.”
Throughout the season during mop-up work and in practice situations, Milton has felt confident in his abilities. It has kept him at a steady mindset throughout the year in case he does get his chance.
“My confidence is always going to be high,” he said. “That’s just the person that I am. I like seeing other people smile, therefore it lights up my day. Every time I step on the field, it’s a relief for me. Everything that I’ve been through in my life, situations I've overcome, whatever it may be. The most important thing, whenever I step out there, I’m playing for my daughter.”
In three preseason games, Milton threw for 397 yards and two touchdowns along with two interceptions. In three late-game appearances in the regular season, Milton has completed eight of his 11 passes for 110 yards and one touchdown.
Prescott enters the final week of the season first in the NFL in passing yards with 4,482, although Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford still has two games to play at 4,179 yards. A start in Week 18 would give Prescott a solid chance at becoming the first player in franchise history to lead the league in passing.
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 3:10 PM.
