Milton throws 2 TDs in 1st half, makes case for Cowboys' backup job in 34-13 win over Cardinals

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Joe Milton had another good day in his quest to become the Dallas Cowboys' backup quarterback. Coach Brian Schottenheimer says there's still work to be done.

The third-year player — who is battling Sam Howell for the No. 2 role behind Dak Prescott — threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score in a second straight impressive preseason effort, sparking the Cowboys to a 34-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night.

“This is long from over,” Schottenheimer said about the backup quarterback competition. “We're going back to Frisco, thankfully, get a chance to be home and put some more training camp days in. You've got to give Joe his credit, he's played really well the past two games, but we have a lot of confidence in Sam as well.”

Milton finished 9-of-13 passing for 176 yards, connecting on a 53-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Mingo and a 70-yard strike to Camden Brown that set up Milton's 1-yard touchdown run a play later. The play to Mingo was perfectly executed, with the receiver making a double move before Milton hit him in stride down the left sideline.

“This game is about to being able to control the RPMs of the football and throw it with different speeds and touches,” Schottenheimer said. “He's done that at a very high level.”

Dallas built a 24-6 lead by halftime. Jaydon Blue ran for 75 yards on 15 carries.

The 26-year-old Milton was a sixth-round pick by New England in 2024. He played in four regular-season games with Dallas last season, throwing for 183 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Howell completed 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards in the second half, but also threw an interception in the end zone. He started all 17 games with Washington in 2023 and was with Philadelphia last season but didn't appear in any regular-season games.

Both teams rested most of their starters.

Arizona's Gardner Minshew completed 19 of 23 passes for 177 yards, playing the entire first half and the first series of the second half. He's expected to be Jacoby Brissett's backup this season.

Cowboys cornerback Shavon Revel picked off Minshew's pass midway through the first quarter after receiver Simi Fehoko slipped on the route. Revel returned the ball 22 yards to the Arizona 12.

Three plays later, Milton escaped from the pocket, rolled out to his left and hit Malik Davis for an 8-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.

Revel is in his second season after being drafted by the Cowboys in the third round out of East Carolina in 2025. He played in seven games last year, starting five.

Cowboys rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham also had an early tackle for loss.

The Cardinals had two touchdowns called back on the same drive when receiver Rivaldo Fairweather was flagged for a pair of penalties. Fairweather was called for offensive holding on the first play and offensive pass interference on the second.

Arizona had a to settle for a 38-yard field goal from Chad Ryland, which cut the deficit to 14-3.

Later in the first half, the Cardinals were called for a false start at the Dallas 1-yard line. Minshew was sacked on the next play and Ryland kicked a 31-yard field goal.

“It was the culmination of our week — we had a sloppy week of practice," coach Mike LaFleur said. "I don't think we've practiced really well over the last week since Vegas. There have been individuals who have practiced well, there's been times where we've done good things, but overall it wasn't good enough.

“This — tonight — was a summary of that week in general.”

Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ribs) left late in the first quarter after delivering a big hit on Cowboys tight end Zack Kuntz. Taylor-Demerson was called for a personal foul on the play. ... Cowboys safety Julius Wood left in the third quarter with a concussion.

Cowboys: Host New Orleans on Friday night.

Cardinals: At Green Bay on Friday night.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jalen Brooks (86) celebrates his catch in front of Dallas Cowboys cornerback Devin Moore (29) in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Dallas Cowboys tight end Zack Kuntz (47) takes a hit from Arizona Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, rear, in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Von Miller (40) watches play against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) throws a pass in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III (10) drops back to pass in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

MACKAY, Australia (AP) — Mitchell Starc's 10-wicket match haul lifted Australia to a morale boosting victory by an innings and 51 run in the second cricket test as it leveled the two-match series against Bangladesh inside two days.

Starc returned match figures of 10-51, after taking four wickets Sunday to go with his incredible 6-12 on a wild Day 1 which saw Bangladesh bundled out for 64 before the hosts also had its struggles on a spicy pitch at Mackay, in northern Queensland state.

It was the evergreen left-arm swing bowler's fourth ten-wicket haul in tests and also saw him move past South Africa pace great Dale Steyn into 10th on the all-time list with 445 wickets.

Pat Cummins (3-10) and Nathan Lyon each took three wickets to support Starc as Bangladesh could only manage 95 in its second innings to hand Australia a comprehensive win after its shock loss in last week's first test at Darwin.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto top scored for the visitors with 31, while Mushfiqur Rahim had an unbeaten 29, but the pair had very little help from the remaining tourist batters with only two scoring above double digits.

Earlier Sunday, Australia resumed at 165-8 with Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon adding another 28 useful runs Sunday for the ninth wicket.

After also taking six wickets on Day 1, Shoriful Islam soon picked up his seventh with a searing inswinging yorker which struck Green on the front foot and was given out leg before wicket on review.

Shoriful’s 7-48 was the best bowling figures for a Bangladesh player away from home.

Green’s 67 off 105 balls with 10 boundaries was the top score of the match so far and follows his breakthrough home century in the first test at Darwin.

Lyon (32 not out) and Josh Hazlewood then pushed Australia’s score past 200 before Hazelwood (6) skied a catch off Taijul Islam (1-17) to end the innings at 210, and a significant first innings lead of 146 runs on a bowlers’ wicket.

Fresh from taking 6-12 in the first innings, Starc again tormented Bangladesh’s top order in the second innings taking another two wickets in consecutive balls to have the visitors' reeling early in its chase.

After surviving Starc’s first over of the second innings, Bangladesh were not as fortunate in the Aussie’s next over as Shadman Islam (1) edged a catch to Marnus Labuschagne, before Mominul Haque (0) shouldered arms and had his off stump rattled with Starc’s next delivery.

Starc (4-39) returned after lunch to remove the luckless Litton Das for another duck. The wicketkeeper batter faced 27 balls across three innings in the series for no runs.

Starc got his fourth ten-wicket haul in his 107th test with a characteristic delivery that went through the gate of bat and pad and bowled Taijul Islam for seven just before tea.

Starc only narrowly missed his best ever bowling figures (11-94 vs. Sri Lanka at Galle in 2016) as Lyon (3-25) cleaned up the tail taking the final two wickets in the first over after tea to end the match.

The two-test “Top End” series starts a heavy 12-month schedule for the Australians that will feature 20 test matches, including tours to South Africa, India and England.

See AP’s full cricket coverage here

Mitchell Starc of Australia appeals unsuccessfully for a wicket during play on day two of the first cricket test against Bangladesh in Darwin, Australia, Friday, Aug.14, 2026, (James Ross/AAPImage via AP)