Joe Milton accounts for 2 TDs as Cowboys beat Falcons 31-13 in preseason finale

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Joe Milton ran for a touchdown and threw for a score to help the Dallas Cowboys beat the Atlanta Falcons 31-13 in the preseason finale for both teams Friday night.

Slow starts in the first two exhibition games left questions about whether Milton was the answer as the backup to star quarterback Dak Prescott after the Cowboys let Cooper Rush go in free agency and acquired Milton in a trade with New England.

Milton might have eased some concerns for first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer, who is also the play-caller, by leading touchdown drives on Dallas' first two possessions. The first was capped by his 1-yard scoring run, the second by a 1-yard plunge from rookie running back Jaydon Blue in his first preseason action.

On the first drive of the second half, Milton converted a fourth-and-1 by going 18 yards on a designed run, then threw a 29-yard touchdown to Jalen Brooks two plays later for a 24-10 Dallas lead. Will Grier took over from there as Milton finished 10 of 18 for 132 yards.

“He got off to a good start,” Schottenheimer said. “He was having fun. He used his legs. Beautiful throw to (Brooks) on the go ball. He looked a lot more comfortable and settled tonight.”

Both teams sat nearly every starter, and the Falcons once again didn't play Michael Penix Jr. or backup Kirk Cousins. Easton Stick threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Feleipe Franks, who was wide open underneath because of a blown coverage and went head-first over the goal line near the pylon.

Blue, who missed two weeks of training camp with an ankle and heel injury, exited the game with an ankle injury in the second half and didn't return.

Stick threw his second interception in three preseason starts and finished 20 of 28 for 198 yards.

Atlanta's Younghoe Koo converted field goals of 38 and 28 yards after missing from 51 early.

Dallas pass rusher Micah Parsons was present but noticeably disinterested. After scrubbing all references to the Cowboys in his social media profiles amid a contract stalemate, the 2021 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year wasn't showing his No. 11. Instead, he was dressed in a hoodie and stayed in the background on the sideline.

At one point, Parsons was lying on a training table behind the bench, his eyes closed at least part of the time. He didn't practice during training camp and asked for a trade early this month. Parsons is set to make $24 million in the final year of his rookie contract but wants a long-term deal.

Josh Woods had a huge hit for the Falcons on Jalen Cropper's punt return in the first half, and Elijah Dotson started their final drive with a 41-yard run before getting stuffed on fourth down from the Dallas 1 in the final minute. Dotson had 74 yards on 12 carries.

“These games, you get a chance to see some real, live special teams plays,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “You got a chance to see a big-time hit by Josh. Dotson came in and got a couple of big runs there in the second half. Those are always good moments to see.”

Ben DiNucci, whose only NFL start came as a rookie seventh-round draft choice by the Cowboys in 2020, threw an interception on his first pass against his former team when he replaced Stick midway through the fourth quarter. Robert Rochell had the pick. DiNucci signed with the Falcons this week.

Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey made a 64-yard field goal on the final play of the first half. He connected from 65 yards during the 2024 regular season, 1 yard shy of Justin Tucker's NFL record from 2021.

Aubrey made the kick with yards to spare. It looked like it could have matched the 70-yarder from Jacksonville's Cam Little in a 31-25 loss to Pittsburgh on Aug. 9.

The Cowboys play the NFL opener at defending Super Bowl champion and NFC East rival Philadelphia on Sept. 4. The Falcons also open with a division game, facing defending NFC South champion Tampa Bay at home Sept. 7.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer looks on during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. works out prior to a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons lies on the medical table during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Atlanta Falcons tight end Feleipe Franks reacts after catching a touchdown pass from quarterback Easton Stick against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III throws a pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw isn't done pitching just yet, agreeing Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year's World Baseball Classic.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the Americans in the 2023 tournament but was prevented because of insurance issues. He had a $20 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time.

“I was too broken for the insurance to cover my arm and everything,” Kershaw said on MLB Network, “so now that it doesn't matter I get to go and be a part of this group.”

A left-hander who turns 38 two days after the March 17 championship game, Kershaw announced last September that he was retiring at the end of the season, his 18th in a stellar career for the Dodgers. He won his third World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.

“I just want to be the insurance policy,” Kershaw said. “If anybody needs a breather or if they need me to pitch back-to-back-to-back or if they don’t need me to pitch at all, I’m just there to be there. I just want to be a part of this group.”

Later Thursday, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman announced he will join the U.S. team.

When Kershaw received a call from U.S. manager Mark DeRosa, he thought he was being invited as a coach.

“I didn't have a whole lot of interest in picking up a baseball again," Kershaw said. “I started throwing 10, 12 days ago and it doesn’t feel terrible, so I think I’ll be OK.”

Kershaw joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb along with left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gabe Speier.

The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.; outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.

The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens March 6 against Brazil at Houston, part of a group that also includes Britain, Italy and Mexico.

Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to end Japan's 3-2 win in the 2023 championship. Kershaw doesn't anticipate facing Ohtani, his teammate for the Dodgers' World Series titles in 2024 and 2025.

“I think something will have gone terribly wrong if I have to pitch against team Japan in the finals or something. I think we got plenty of guys to get that guy out and not me,” Kershaw said. “But if that happens, I'll be nervous. I'll be nervous at this point.”

AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw celebrates the end of the top of the 12th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)