Joe Milton’s Helmet Clash: Is His Thumb Injury More Serious Than It Seems?

Joe Milton, the Cowboys’ backup quarterback, had an unexpected early exit during the joint practice with the Rams after taking a nasty jab to his hand — literally hitting it on a helmet. While the team’s calling it a precaution, you can bet there’s a layer of concern beneath the surface. Coach Brian Schottenheimer mentioned Milton could have powered through the scrimmage with a bum thumb, but they’re not taking any chances and are scheduling further tests to be absolutely certain there’s no real damage. Meanwhile, Will Grier stepped up to fill his spot with the second team, showing how quickly things can shift in these intense preseason battles. Milton — freshly acquired from the Patriots in the offseason — is still slated to start Saturday’s game against the Rams, so the Cowboys will be watching closely to see how he bounces back. LEARN MORE

The Cowboys called it precautionary.Will Grier replaced Milton with the second team.Milton, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Patriots, is expected to start Saturday’s preseason game against the Rams. Cowboys backup quarterback Joe Milton left the joint practice with the Rams after hitting his hand on a helmet.”[The medical staff] feels really good about it,” Schottenheimer said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com.Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Milton could have finished the scrimmage after injuring his thumb. Milton, though, will undergo additional testing to confirm he indeed is fine.