Eagles bench Tanner McKee after three starts, starting Joe Milton Sunday vs. Giants
Joe Milton #14 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks to pass against the Carolina Panthers prior to an NFL football game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 18, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
At 2-6 entering their final game ahead of the bye week, the Eagles are looking to pull one final cat out of their hat.
The Eagles are starting Joe Milton at quarterback on Sunday afternoon against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. After head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters on Monday he was sticking with Tanner McKee, Philadelphia is making the switch after three games.
Mike Garafolo and Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the news.
Milton has appeared in five games over two seasons for the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys before the Eagles signed him on Oct. 16 off Dallas’ practice squad. He is 37-for-53 in his career for 424 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. In his only extended NFL action in Week 18 of 2024 against the Buffalo Bills, Milton went 22-for-29 for 241 yards with a passing and rushing touchdown, no interceptions, and a 111.4 passer rating.
The 26-year-old was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round out of Tennessee in 2024. He has a big arm and possesses a ton of talent, though he was seen as a developmental prospect when he got drafted.
Milton will become the fourth quarterback to throw a pass for the Eagles this season, joining Jalen Hurts, McKee, and Andy Dalton.
“I think he’s worked really hard,” Sirianni said on Milton Wednesday. “Him and [quarterbacks coach] Parks [Frazier] 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.”
McKee started and lost the last three games in place of Hurts, who is out for the remainder of the season with blood clots. The 26-year-old went 72-of-114 passing for 638 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Eagles averaged 15 points per game over that span.
On Monday, Sirianni vocalized that the Eagles were sticking with the 2023 sixth-rounder.
“Tanner’s our guy,” Sirianni said on Monday. “We’re not making any changes there. Again, how do we find solutions? That could be within scheme, that could be within how our schedule is, practice plays. Everything’s on the table for us in that aspect. But right now, this is where we are, and we’re trying to find solutions there. We’re looking at everything as far as what we can do differently as coaches.”
Benjamin Goldstein
Benjamin is a Sports Media major at Temple University and an aspiring sportscaster and journalist. Since 2017, he has covered Philadelphia sports as the founder, editor, writer, and podcast host of Philly Sports Reports. In addition, Benjamin is a freelance sports writer for The Temple News, a broadcaster and radio host on WHIP Radio. He previously interned with the WBCB Sports Network on 1490 AM for four years. Through his coverage and media work, he has had the opportunity to meet Phillies owner John Middleton in his suite and has been recognized as KYW Newsradio’s Philadelphia Sports Fan of the Week.
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