Eagles Name Joe Milton Starting Quarterback, Benching Tanner McKee for Giants Game

The Philadelphia Eagles are turning to a third starting quarterback this season. Joe Milton III will start on Sunday against the New York Giants, ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, with Tanner McKee benched after three straight losses. It comes just two days after head coach Nick Sirianni publicly insisted McKee would keep the job.

Milton, 26, was signed off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad on October 16, days after Jalen Hurts went on season-ending injured reserve with blood clots. The 2-6 Eagles, losers of six straight, host the NFC East-leading Giants at Lincoln Financial Field at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 8, with a Week 10 bye to follow.

Key Points

• Joe Milton III will start at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday against the New York Giants, his first career NFL start.
• Tanner McKee is benched after losing all three of his starts, completing 63.2 percent of his passes for 638 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
• The switch reverses head coach Nick Sirianni's public stance on Monday, when he said McKee was still his starter after the 27-10 loss to Washington.
• Milton becomes the Eagles' third starting quarterback this season, after Jalen Hurts and McKee.
• Philadelphia, 2-6 after six straight defeats, hosts the NFC East-leading Giants (4-2-1) at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, before a Week 10 bye.

What Happened

The decision was reported on Wednesday by Schefter and Garafolo, and it landed as a sharp reversal. On Monday, after the Eagles' 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders, Sirianni had shut down any talk of a change. "Tanner's our guy. We're not making any changes there," he said. Two days later, the Eagles were making exactly that change.

McKee, 26, had started the last three games since Hurts was lost for the season, and lost all three. He completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 638 yards, with two touchdowns against two interceptions and a 76.6 passer rating. The offence stalled badly in that stretch, and the defeats piled up until the losing run reached six games.

Milton's path here has been a winding one. Drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, he spent time with the Patriots and the Cowboys before Philadelphia signed him off Dallas' practice squad on October 16. On Sunday he finally gets his chance, at home, in a divisional game, with the season slipping away.

Background and Context

The Eagles' season unravelled quickly after Hurts went down. The franchise quarterback was placed on season-ending injured reserve with blood clots, and McKee stepped in as the replacement. The results were grim: a 38-21 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, followed by the 27-10 loss to Washington that closed out Week 8. The offence has not won since September.

Injuries have made the slide worse. Running back Saquon Barkley has been battling injuries of his own, re-injuring his hamstring and then hurting his back, leaving the running game short of its usual punch. With the ground game struggling and the passing game unable to carry the load, the Eagles have fallen to 2-6, and the gap to the top of the NFC East has grown wide.

Joe Milton's First Start: What the Eagles Are Betting On

Milton is a gamble, and the Eagles know it. He has a big arm and the physical tools that made him a draft pick, but he has almost no regular-season experience and has never started an NFL game. Throwing him in against a division leader, with the season on the line, is a bold call — but it is also the kind of call a 2-6 team can afford to make, because the status quo was not working.

What the Eagles will want most from Milton on Sunday is simple: protect the football, keep the offence on schedule, and let the running game and the defence do their share. If Milton can stretch the field and avoid the mistakes that stall drives, Philadelphia's coaches will see enough to keep going with him.

Reactions and Quotes

The most telling reaction so far is Sirianni's own, from Monday. "Tanner's our guy. We're not making any changes there," the head coach said after the Washington defeat, a public vote of confidence that lasted less than 48 hours. The speed of the reversal says plenty about how the Eagles' coaches judged McKee's three starts behind closed doors.

For McKee, the demotion is a harsh turn after he was handed the job when Hurts went down. Three losses in three starts left the coaches looking for a spark. For Milton, it is the opportunity he has waited for since draft day in 2024.

Why It Matters

This matters because the Eagles are at a crossroads. At 2-6, the playoffs are a long shot, but the remaining games still decide how the franchise judges this season — and who is part of its future. A quarterback change now is as much about the months ahead as about Sunday: the coaches need answers about Milton and about whether this roster can still compete.

It also matters for the NFC East. The Giants lead the division at 4-2-1, and a win in Philadelphia would strengthen their hold. A home win for the Eagles, with a new quarterback, could change the mood of a locker room overnight.

What Happens Next

Milton will take the first-team reps in practice this week and lead the Eagles out against the Giants at Lincoln Financial Field at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 8. After that comes the Week 10 bye, a natural point for the coaches to judge what they saw and decide whether Milton keeps the job.

If he plays well, the job is his to lose. If he struggles, McKee remains on the roster and could return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Joe Milton III?
Milton, 26, was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. The Eagles signed him off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad on October 16, 2026, after Jalen Hurts went on season-ending injured reserve.

Why was Tanner McKee benched?
McKee lost all three starts after taking over from Hurts — 63.2 percent completions, 638 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, a 76.6 rating — as the losing run reached six games.

What did Nick Sirianni say on Monday?
After the 27-10 loss to Washington, Sirianni said: "Tanner's our guy. We're not making any changes there." Two days later, Milton was named the starter.

When do the Eagles play the Giants?
Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field. The Giants lead the NFC East at 4-2-1; the Eagles are 2-6.

What happened to Jalen Hurts?
Hurts went on season-ending injured reserve with blood clots, forcing the Eagles to find a replacement. McKee started three games; Milton will now take over.

Read more: Cowboys beat Eagles 38-21 as Barkley suffers new injury in Monday Night Football rout and Jalen Carter punch: Eagles star faces NFL fine after hitting Spann-Ford twice.