Eagles Insert 25-Year-Old Joe Milton at Quarterback for Week 9

The Philadelphia Eagles will field a third starting quarterback this season.

Joe Milton, 25, will take the field against the New York Giants in Week 9. This move replaces backup Tanner McKee, who lost all three of his starts. Jalen Hurts is currently on injured reserve.

The Eagles signed Milton off the Dallas Cowboys practice squad on Oct. 16. That date fell one day before Hurts was placed on the injured reserve list. Milton has been with Philadelphia for less than three weeks. He now faces the NFC East-leading Giants in a divisional matchup.

Coach Nick Sirianni said Milton has prepared extensively. Sirianni noted that Milton and quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier have spent a ton of time together. The head coach described Milton as someone who is always in the building doing the extra things. Sirianni expressed satisfaction with the quarterback's progression.

Milton joins the Eagles to potentially restore a deep passing threat. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer previously compared Milton's arm strength to that of Brett Favre. Schottenheimer also voiced concerns about accuracy and touch. Those reservations contributed to Sam Howell winning the backup job in Dallas. Milton served as the Cowboys' No. 3 quarterback on the practice squad.

Milton was a sixth-round pick in 2024. The Patriots traded him to Dallas in April 2025. He served as Dak Prescott's backup during the 2025 season. During three preseason games this year, Milton completed 29 of 43 passes. He threw for 378 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. That performance resulted in a 67.4 percent completion rate and a 118.2 passer rating.

Schottenheimer praised Milton's potential before the trade. The coach said the arm talent is real and cited the touch Milton developed in Dallas. Schottenheimer acknowledged the learning curve for quarterbacks from spread college offenses. He called the decision to move on from Milton a very tough decision and predicted Milton will be a terrific player in the league.