Eagles start Joe Milton after 18 days

The Philadelphia Eagles will start Joe Milton at quarterback Sunday against the New York Giants.

Milton, 26, was signed off the Dallas Cowboys practice squad 18 days ago. He replaces Tanner McKee, who started the previous two games. The move follows a 2-6 start to the season.

Coach Nick Sirianni defended McKee on Monday. “Tanner’s our guy, we’re not making any changes there,” Sirianni said. That statement came 48 hours before the Eagles announced the switch.

Milton entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2024 out of the University of Tennessee. He has played in five relief games for the Patriots and Cowboys in the past two seasons. His career stats in those games are 37 completions on 53 attempts for 424 yards. He threw two touchdown passes and two interceptions.

Sirianni praised Milton’s work ethic in practice just two hours before the news broke. “I think he’s worked really hard in practice,” Sirianni told reporters. He noted that Milton and quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier spent a lot of time together to get the system installed. Sirianni said Milton is always in the building doing extra work and that he liked the player’s progression.

The Eagles elevated Milton to McKee’s backup immediately after his arrival. That move pushed rookie Cole Payton down the depth chart. The team hopes Milton’s mobility will extend plays longer than McKee’s. This approach aims to compensate for an offensive line that has struggled to protect the passer in recent weeks.

Milton’s first NFL start is scheduled for Sunday. The Eagles face the Giants in that matchup. The quarterback change comes after a period of injuries and offensive difficulties for the team.