Eagles Quarterback Depth: Joe Milton Replaces Tanner McKee
The team signed the 26-year-old former Patriots pick from the Cowboys' practice squad just 18 days before he was named the new backup starter.
By Lorenzo Patterson ·
The Philadelphia Eagles have replaced their second-string quarterback. According to ESPN, Tanner McKee has been benched in favor of Joe Milton. This marks the second time the franchise has altered its quarterback backup role during the 2026 season.
Milton was added to the 53-man roster 18 days ago. The team acquired him from the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad. Before joining Philadelphia, Milton spent the 2025 season with Dallas, where he appeared in four games. In that span, he completed 15 of 24 passes for 183 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He also rushed five times for 50 yards.
The quarterback's path to the Eagles roster began in New England. The Patriots selected Milton in the sixth round of the 2024 draft. He played in one regular-season game that year, a Week 18 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. In that contest, he completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for a score. A few months later, New England traded Milton and a seventh-round pick to Dallas in exchange for a fifth-round selection.
The Eagles' quarterback situation has been turbulent since the start of the season. During training camp, Andy Dalton claimed the backup role over McKee. In Week 3, Dalton entered the game against the Chicago Bears while starter Jalen Hurts underwent concussion testing. Dalton threw an interception on third down before Hurts returned to the field. Following a loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Dalton was demoted to the third-string role, and McKee was promoted.
Hurts' season ended in Week 5. He was initially diagnosed with a superficial blood clot in his leg. After flying to London for a game and returning to Philadelphia, medical tests revealed deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. McKee started the subsequent three games. The Eagles lost each contest by at least two scores against opponents with losing records.
Head coach Nick Sirianni indicated on Monday that McKee would retain his starting position for the next game. "Tanner's our guy," Sirianni said. "We're not making any changes there." The decision to switch to Milton reverses that assessment just days later. Milton stands 6 feet 5 inches and weighs 236 pounds. Draft analyst Lance Zierlein noted that while Milton possesses the arm talent to make all NFL throws, he has struggled with timing and accuracy over his six years in college at Michigan and Tennessee.
