With the 2-6 Philadelphia Eagles spiraling through a disappointing season, the team will turn to Joe Milton as their starting quarterback Sunday against the New York Giants, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The former sixth-round pick in 2024 was signed by Philadelphia on Oct. 16 after spending time on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.
He will be the Eagles’ third different starting quarterback in a season derailed by injuries. Jalen Hurts was placed on season-ending injured reserve with blood clots. Tanner McKee started the previous three games but was unable to spark an offense that has struggled throughout the team’s six-game losing streak.
Originally drafted by the New England Patriots, Milton was traded to Dallas last April and spent the season as Dak Prescott’s backup.
The 26-year-old who played his college ball at Michigan and Tennessee was waived by the Cowboys after losing a training camp battle with former Eagles’ backup QB Sam Howell. The team quickly signed him to their practice squad before being poached by the Eagles.
What separates Milton from McKee is his athleticism and rare physical tools. Armed with a cannon for an arm, Milton demonstrated throughout his college career that he could make throws few quarterbacks could make.
The dual-threat quarterback has appeared in five NFL games over the last two seasons completing 37 of his 53 passes for a 69.8% completion percentage for 424 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has 15 carries for 66 yards and a score.
"I think he’s worked really hard,” Nick Sirianni said Tuesday afternoon during his weekly press conference.
“Him and Parks [Frazier] (quarterbacks coach) have spent a ton of time together, getting him caught up to speed. I know the developmental periods, those always help to be able to run our plays. But he works extremely hard. He is always in the building, doing the extra things. I like his progression."
The decision to change QB’s comes just 48 hours after Sirianni confirmed that McKee was “their guy.”
The appeal of turning to Milton lies in his upside. While accuracy and consistency have been concerns dating back to college, his mobility and arm talent provide a dimension the offense lacked with McKee under center.
At this stage of the season, the Eagles have little to lose by evaluating whether Milton can provide a spark.
It remains to be seen how much of the playbook he’ll command in his first start, but his skillset offers a higher ceiling for an offense desperately searching for answers.
For a fan base that has endured the longest losing streak in 14 years, Milton’s debut at least injects an element of intrigue in an otherwise lost season.
Whether that translates into results against the Giants is another question.
