Eagles Turn to Joe Milton at QB Against the Giants

The Eagles are going with Joe Milton at quarterback Sunday against the Giants, benching Tanner McKee after three straight losses as the starter. It's a full reversal from Monday, when coach Nick Sirianni said Philadelphia was sticking with McKee.

Milton becomes the Eagles' third different starter this season, and it says everything about where they are. Philly's 2-6, has lost six in a row, and sits last in the NFC East. With Jalen Hurts out after doctors found blood clots in both of his lungs, the Eagles are basically auditioning for the rest of the year.

Why the Eagles Made the Switch

The move was first reported by NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and ESPN's Adam Schefter. McKee's numbers in his three starts weren't a disaster on paper: 72 of 114 for 638 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. But the offense kept stalling. Sunday's loss to Washington is the perfect example. The Eagles jumped out 10-0 and then lost 27-10.

Milton is a totally different kind of quarterback. He's a big-armed athlete who can make plays with his legs, which matters for an offense that's struggled to block. That same aggressiveness can get him in trouble, but at 2-6 the Eagles can live with some risk.

Who Is Joe Milton?

He's been on a winding road. The Patriots took him in the sixth round of the 2024 draft out of Tennessee, then traded him to Dallas in April 2025. He backed up Dak Prescott last year, appearing in four games, and completed 15 of 24 passes for 183 yards with a touchdown and two picks. The Cowboys waived him after he lost a camp battle for the backup job, brought him back to the practice squad, and the Eagles signed him off it on Oct. 16, a day before Hurts went on injured reserve.

His best NFL look came in Week 18 of his rookie year in New England, when he played most of the game and went 22 of 29 for 241 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score. That's the flash the Eagles are hoping to see again.

The Giants Come to Philly

This one's at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, and the Giants come in at 4-2-1. For Milton, it's a first real chance to show he's more than a camp arm. For Eagles fans, it's at least something new to watch after six straight losses.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Milton's rushing yards against the Giants. The Eagles are starting him for his legs as much as his arm, and he ran five times for 50 yards in his limited work with Dallas last year.