Cowboys fall to Rams in preseason as Milton gains experience

It was an uneven start to the Brian Schottenheimer era as the Cowboys lost to the LA Rams in the preseason opener.

Milton shows promise but Cowboys face early questions after Rams defeat

The Cowboys opened the Brian Schottenheimer era with a 31-21 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles on Saturday. The plan to stay vanilla in the preseason showed, but Joe Milton’s first live look underscored that he remains a raw quarterback who needs time. Milton began slowly, misfiring on early attempts and even delivering a pass that bounced off a defender’s helmet. He finished 17 of 29 for 143 yards with a touchdown and an interception before exiting with an elbow injury. The night offered some growth where it mattered most for Dallas: he earned valuable reps and a slice of real-game experience as the team eyes a three-year development arc.

Defensively, questions lingered in the secondary. Starting corners Robert Rochell and Andrew Booth had rough moments, with Rochell leaving with a hamstring issue and Booth surrendering a deep completion on the opening drive that set up a Rams touchdown. Israel Mukuamu did provide a bright spot with a third-quarter interception, but on balance the depth chart behind Trevon Diggs remains unsettled. Offensively, the top five receivers appear set, leaving the battle for the sixth spot open with Traeshon Holden as a long shot. Special teams offered stability, as Bryan Anger punted well and Brandon Aubrey made both of his field goals.

The night lays bare a broader challenge for Dallas: grow Milton without compromising the rest of a young roster. The vanilla approach minimizes risk but also limits the scouting of a quarterback who needs live reps against real schemes. Dallas will likely lean on Milton’s development timeline while trying to protect him with a stable supporting cast and clearer decision making. The Cowboys’ longer-term question centers on depth, particularly at cornerback and in the receiver group, where a clear path to a confident sixth option remains murky after camp.

Highlights

Dallas will keep evaluating and stacking reps in the next games.