Eagle Replace McKee with Milton at Quarterback
Philadelphia activates Joe Milton from the practice squad after a third consecutive loss under the previous starter.
By Sanjay Caldwell ·
The Philadelphia Eagles have installed Joe Milton as their starting quarterback, according to a report from ESPN. The move marks the second change at the backup position this season and follows a run of three straight losses under Tanner McKee.
Milton was signed to the 53-man roster from the Dallas Cowboys practice squad 18 days ago. He was originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. In his only game with New England, a Week 18 contest against the Buffalo Bills, Milton completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for one score in that appearance.
The Patriots traded Milton to Dallas a few months later for a fifth-round pick, while receiving a seventh-round selection in return. During the 2025 season, Milton appeared in four games. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 183 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He carried the ball five times for 50 rushing yards. At 6 feet 5 inches and 236 pounds, he possesses elite physical traits, though scouts have noted inconsistencies in his timing and accuracy.
The quarterback depth chart has been volatile all season. Andy Dalton initially secured the backup role over McKee during training camp. However, Dalton was demoted to the third-string spot before the team played the Los Angeles Rams. McKee started the subsequent three games, all of which ended in losses of two or more scores against opponents with sub-.500 records.
The instability at the position began earlier in the year when Jalen Hurts suffered a superficial blood clot in his leg during Week 5. Hurts traveled to London, played in a game, and returned home to be diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. That injury ended his season and forced the team to rely on its backups.
Head coach Nick Sirianni stated on Monday that McKee would remain the starter. "Tanner's our guy," Sirianni said. "We're not making any changes there." The team acted on the change in personnel after that announcement, effectively benching McKee in favor of Milton.
