Later this month, the Dallas Cowboys will depart for training camp in Oxnard, California, as they officially start the 2026 campaign, looking to crack the postseason for the first time since 2023.
In the Cowboys Depth Chart series, we will take a look at each position group to determine which players are safe, on the bubble or have work to do in terms of making the 53-man roster coming out of training camp in late August.
At the quarterback position, things have obviously been safe and comfortable at the top under Dak Prescott, but a publicized battle behind him on the depth chart sets the table for an entertaining preseason and camp at the position.
Here is a look at the quarterback position heading into training camp.
SAFE (1)
Dak Prescott
No player on the entire roster is as safe as Dak Prescott going into the 2026 season. Entering the second season of his four-year, $240 million extension that he signed in 2024, Prescott will look to build on a bounce-back campaign in 2025 that saw him lead one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses. However, Prescott will be 33 years old by the time the season begins. Understanding that there are probably fewer Prescott years ahead than there are in the past, the state of the quarterback room behind him becomes slightly more important each season.
ON THE BUBBLE (2)
Joe Milton III, Sam Howell
The Cowboys made a bit of a surprise with a shake-up in the quarterback room this offseason, as they moved on from trusted depth piece Will Grier in favor of a former starter with ample experience in Sam Howell. Shortly after the signing was made, head coach Brian Schottenheimer came out and said that the backup quarterback spot behind Prescott is up for grabs.
Howell brings experience, having started 18 games in his career including all 17 for the Washington Commanders in 2023. Since then, however, Howell has only thrown 14 passes over the past two seasons. The system is familiar for Howell, as he pointed to his days at the University of North Carolina as a similar setup for how the Cowboys play under Schottenheimer.
On the other hand, Joe Milton III comes into 2026 with a year in Dallas under his belt, but a lack of strong confidence in his abilities along with it. Milton had a shaky first preseason with the Cowboys after being acquired in a trade last offseason, and he wasn’t called upon to play meaningful snaps in the regular season. The signing of Howell could be a sign of the staff’s lack of belief in Milton moving forward, or it could be simply intentional fuel to add to his fire going into 2026. Either way, Milton is being called upon to take a step forward.
Whoever comes out on top in the backup quarterback battle will obviously be safe on the roster, but there are a couple of possibilities for the loser in that competition. Will Schottenheimer carry three quarterbacks to prevent leaving one subjected to waivers? Or, could the Cowboys try to utilize the trade market to get something in return?
Game schedule dates, times, locations
NEXT UP: Game dates, times, locations, channel
Rangers ▶
July 7 Rangers 8, L.A. Angels 3
July 8 L.A. Angels 13, Rangers 1
July 9 Rangers 7, L.A. Angels 6
July 10 Rangers 7, Houston 3
July 11 Houston 9, Rangers 3
July 12 Rangers 6, Houston 5
All-Star break
July 17 at Atlanta, 6:15 p.m., CW
July 18 at Atlanta, 3:10 p.m., RSN
July 19 at Atlanta, 12:35 p.m., RSN
July 20 vs. Chicago White Sox, 7:05 p.m., RSN
July 21 vs. Chicago White Sox, 7:05 p.m., RSN
July 22 vs. Chicago White Sox, 7:05 p.m., RSN
Wings▶
July 2 Wings 86, Connecticut 83
July 5 Wings 89, Toronto 76
July 7 Wings 88, New York 77
July 10 Wings 108, Toronto 95
July 12 Wings 96, Chicago 91
July 16 vs. New York, 8 p.m., Amazon Prime Video
July 19 vs. Los Angeles, 12 p.m., ABC
July 22 at Portland, 9 p.m., KFAA, USA, CNBC
All-Star break
July 29 vs. Atlanta, 7 p.m., KFAA, USA
July 31 at Washington, 6:30 p.m., Ion
TCU Football ▶
2026 season
Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina (at Dublin), 11 a.m., ESPN
Sept. 12 vs. Grambling State, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Sept. 19 vs. Arkansas State, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Sept. 26 at Central Florida, TBA
Oct. 3 vs. BYU, TBA
Oct. 17 at Baylor, TBA
Oct. 24 vs. West Virginia, TBA
Oct. 31 vs. Kansas, TBA
Nov. 6 at Arizona, 9:15 p.m., ESPN
Nov. 14 vs. Kansas State, TBA
Nov. 21 vs. Utah, TBA
Nov. 26 at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN
Cowboys ▶
Sept. 13 at N.Y. Giants, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Sept. 20 vs. Washington, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Sept. 27 vs. Baltimore (at Rio de Janeiro), 3:25 p.m., CBS
Oct. 4 at Houston, 12 p.m., Fox
Oct. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video
Oct. 18 at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Oct. 26 at Philadelphia, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC
Nov. 1 vs. Arizona, 12 p.m., Fox
Nov. 8 at Indianapolis, 12 p.m., Fox
Nov. 15 vs. San Francisco, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee, 12 p.m., Fox
Nov. 26 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., Fox
Dec. 7 at Seattle, 7:15 p.m., ESPN, ABC
Dec. 20 at L.A. Rams, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Dec. 27 vs. Jacksonville, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Jan. 3 vs. N.Y. Giants, 12 p.m., Fox
Jan. 9 or 10 at Washington, TBA
World Cup ▶
All local matches at AT&T Stadium
Group stage
June 14 Japan 2, Netherlands 2 (Group F)
June 17 England 4, Croatia 2 (Group L)
June 22 Argentina 2, Austria 0 (Group J)
June 25 Japan 1, Sweden 1 (Group F)
June 27 Argentina 3, Jordan 1 (Group J)
Knockout round
June 30 Norway 2, Ivory Coast 1 (round of 32)
July 3 Egypt 1, Australia 1 (Egypt wins 4-2 on PKs) (round of 32)
July 6 Spain 1, Portugal 0 (round of 16)
July 14 Spain 2, France 0 (semifinal)
FC Dallas ▶
May 2 FC Dallas 2, NY Red Bulls 0
May 9 FC Dallas 3, Salt Lake 1
May 13 Vancouver 3, FC Dallas 2
May 16 FC Dallas 3, San Jose 2
May 23 FC Dallas 2, Colorado 1
World Cup break
July 22 at Portland, 9:30 p.m., Apple TV
July 25 at San Diego, 8:30 p.m., FS1, Apple TV
Aug. 1 at LA Galaxy, 9:30 p.m., Apple TV
Aug. 5 vs. Queretaro (at Mansfield Stadium), 7:30 p.m., Apple TV
Aug. 8 vs. Chivas de Guadalajara (at San Jose, Calif.), 8 p.m., Apple TV
Nick Harris is the Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has experience working on the beat for DallasCowboys.com and previous work experience at Yahoo Sports/Rivals and 247Sports.
