Cowboys’ Joe Milton Learns ‘Video Game’ Offense: Camp Notebook in Oxnard originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
OXNARD – Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton has been one of a handful of players impressing in Oxnard in the training camp.
Yes, there’s been a roller-coaster of highs and less-than-highs, but there have been far more ups than downs for “Bazooka” Joe, with his cannon of an arm on show making a tight-window throw to KaVontae Turpin here and displaying his athleticism running the ball on a couple of read options there …
And Milton is QB2 as we sit here today.
But he hasn’t gotten to this point all by himself. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko have given Joe – a second-year prospect acquired this offseason in a cheap trade with New England – the tools to be himself in the offense.
“They put in a lot of time with me and also the offense,” Milton said. “But from those two men, they give great insights, great point of views, but far as like what I’ve learned, I learned a lot since I’ve been here.
“Obviously … there’s a lot of new terminology for me. I feel like it’s just when you learn a new video game, you have to learn the controls to it. I feel like that’s what it is here, just learning the offense, learning the system, learning what all I can do and what I’m capable of doing in the inside the offense.”
The other glaring thing to come out of the first handful of practices is how much more Milton is giving the offense compared to previous QB experiment Trey Lance, to the point where Joe is so far ahead of Trey it isn’t funny.
Granted, when the pads come on on Sunday, we will get to evaluate Joe properly, but right now, he’s doing all the right things and gives the Cowboys a weapon if the otherwise Dak Prescott-led offense ever needs to call on him.
More Cowboys Notebook from Saturday in Oxnard …
*Before Saturday’s practice began, Jerry Jones addressed the large crowd of fans … amid of smattering of boos and “Sign Micah” catcalls.
*Parsons remains a hold-in with a sore back, awaiting his $40 million-plus APY extension while trotting around the practice field in sneakers.
*Our positive views on Kaiir Elam – another cheap trade get via the Buffalo Bills – have been met with skepticism. But we’ll say it again: His first-round pedigree keeps showing.
In four training camp practices, he has two interceptions … and on Saturday, after a pick-off of Prescott, he ran toward the fans on the sidelines, grabbed somebody’s 4-year-old, and lifted him skyward, like Simba in the Lion King.
Fan-favorite sort of stuff.
*Right tackle Terrence Steele (ankle) is out, so there is some shuffling there. But in a stunner, first-round pick Tyler Booker – a plug-and-play starter at right guard – gave way to veteran newcomer Robert Jones, with Booker moving down to second team.
We’re going to assume this is about more “shuffling” … and nothing more.
*Receiver Parris Campbell injured his lower leg Saturday and exited. Cornerback DaRon Bland and linebacker Kenneth Murray missed practice again as their significant others are giving birth.
*John Stephens Jr. is making his debut, returning from his torn ACL. … and he got a snap with the first-team group, all part of Dallas’ good-news production at tight end this week – and yes, that goes for Luke Schoonmaker, too, as he fights to keep his second-team job.
*Rookie third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr. got a helmet on Saturday as he might be inching away from the rehab group and off of the NFI list.
Play of the Day? Here’s rookie running back Jaydon Blue – who piled up snaps as a pass-catcher at Texas – with a diving snag …
catch blue our minds 😳#CowboysCamp | @AmericanAirpic.twitter.com/yiwwtBBqRh
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) July 27, 2025
*Again, Sunday is pads day … so “real football” feels that much closer.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.