In case you missed it, let me recap what this week looked like for Dallas Cowboys QB Joe Milton:

• Sunday: He makes the initial 53-man roster.
• Monday: He is waived to make room for RB Emari Demercado.
• Tuesday: All NFL teams pass on him in waivers, making him a free agent.
• Wednesday: He signs to the Cowboys practice squad.

Talk about a roller coaster for the 26-year-old quarterback. It was a wild ride but also a teaching one for fans and media members alike. Here’s what we learned from the plot-twist-filled saga.

1. Cowboys show win-now mindset

While Milton represents some upside thanks to his freakish arm talent, the Cowboys believe Howell can operate the offense better at this stage. That’s not only because of accuracy or ability to extend plays. It’s also because of the “little things” like calling the play in the huddle.

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer talked about how quarterbacks who ran spread offenses in the NFL can take longer with their transition to the pros when explaining his decision to cut Milton. If the Cowboys are in win-now mode, you’ve got to bet on the highest floor at backup quarterback if case you need him to fill in for a short-term injury.

Additionally, carrying two quarterbacks instead of three shows some committment to players likelier to take the field at other positions.

“We’ve made it very clear, when you’re pursuing championships and you want to win now, we’re trying to build the best team possible,” Schottenheimer said earlier in the week. “We felt like carrying two quarterbacks was the best way for us to strengthen our roster.”

2. Joe Milton still intrigues the Cowboys

The Cowboys might have a win-now mentality but that doesn’t mean they’re not interested in continuing developing Milton. The team immediately brought back the quarterback to the practice squad.

At the end of the day, Milton showed significant progress in the preseason. He was much more accurate and calm in the pocket. It’s true, he showed some of the same problems from last year in the preseason opener, but there are promising signs of improvement. It will be tough to compete for QB2 from the practice squad, but maybe less pressure is exactly what Milton needs right now.

3. We tend to overrate specific team’s talent

After seeing Milton this preseason, I’m honestly surprised he didn’t get claimed in waivers. Maybe the Cowboys were savvy with their timing but still. NFL teams have claimed players each day of the week. It’s a shock to me no one was interested in claiming him despite his improvement compared to last year.

I think it’s safe to say we tend to overrate each team’s talent when it comes to backup players. Otherwise why pass on him in waivers? Why did he not choose to go elsewhere as a free agent? If he was a surefire developmental bet, a team with more uncertainty at QB would have surely take a flyer on him. If he was who Cowboys fans and even media members think he was, he would not be back at The Star.

Insider Jordan Schultz reported “most NFL teams” were interested in Milton, but at what capacity? Milton likely received only practice squad offers. And had he received an offer that offered him a clearer path toward taking the football field, he surely would’ve taken it.

Bonus: We might care way too much about these transactions

This thought occured to me on Wedneday upon Milton’s return to the Cowboys: We care too much about every little transaction in the NFL. Think about it. All the trackers on cutdown day, the attention paid to practice squads, and more. You would not have heard about any of the Milton saga before the internet.

But this time, it was the story of the week someway or somehow. But hey, that’s why the NFL is king.