Eagles Bench Tanner McKee, Name Joe Milton III Starter vs. Giants

The Philadelphia Eagles are shaking things up at quarterback, benching Tanner McKee in favor of Joe Milton III for Sunday’s matchup against the New York Giants, according to the New York Post ^[1]. This marks the third different starting quarterback for the Eagles this season, as they attempt to snap a six-game losing streak that has left them rooted in last place in the NFC East.

McKee, 26, had started the past three games since franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts was placed on injured reserve. The change comes after the Eagles (2-6) lost all three of McKee’s starts, with the New York Post noting his stats of 638 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions this season ^[1]. ESPN reported that sources confirmed the switch to Milton, who will take the field for the first time as a starter for Philadelphia ^[2].

Milton’s path to the starting role has been anything but linear. The 26-year-old was originally selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in April 2025, where he served as the backup to Dak Prescott and appeared in four games off the bench last season, according to ESPN ^[2]. The Eagles signed Milton off the Cowboys’ practice squad on October 16, just one day before placing Hurts on injured reserve.

Hurts’ absence has been significant. Doctors discovered multiple blood clots in both of his lungs, a condition that sources told ESPN and NFL Network is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the season ^[2]. With Hurts out, the Eagles have struggled to find offensive consistency. McKee completed 63.2% of his passes during his three starts, but the team failed to secure a single win under his command.

Milton was previously waived by Dallas after losing a training camp competition for the backup job to Sam Howell earlier this year. The Cowboys brought him back to the practice squad days later before Philadelphia claimed him. Now, he gets the chance to lead the Eagles in a critical NFC East battle. The Giants, meanwhile, will look to exploit the Eagles’ unstable quarterback situation, which has seen three different players under center in Week 9.

The Eagles’ decision reflects their desperation to stop the bleeding. With the playoff picture fading, the pressure is squarely on Milton’s shoulders to deliver a victory against their divisional rivals. Whether he can provide the spark that McKee and the injured Hurts could not remains the biggest question heading into Sunday’s game.