The Philadelphia Eagles are benching Tanner McKee in favor of Joe Milton at quarterback, according to a report from ESPN, just two days after head coach Nick Sirianni publicly backed McKee.
McKee had started the team’s last three games after Jalen Hurts was ruled out for the season with blood clots. Philadelphia lost all three of those games and has now dropped six straight after opening the season 2-0.
The decision comes as a surprise given Sirianni’s comments to reporters on Monday. “Tanner’s our guy. We’re not making any changes there,” Sirianni said at the time, adding that the team was focused on fixing its problems and that responsibility for whether issues stemmed from scheme, execution or mental errors fell on the coaching staff.
Milton joined the Eagles on Oct. 16 after being signed off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad. Sirianni has praised the work Milton has put in since arriving in Philadelphia.
“Yeah, I think he’s worked really hard. Him and (quarterback 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. He works extremely hard, he’s always in the building doing the extra things and yeah, I like his progression,” Sirianni said.
Milton entered the league with the New England Patriots as a sixth-round pick out of Tennessee in the 2024 NFL Draft. He spent one season there before being traded to Dallas, where he backed up Dak Prescott in 2025.
His NFL experience is limited. Milton has appeared in five games total, with his only start coming in a meaningless Week 18 matchup for the Patriots in 2024, when he completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards, one passing touchdown and a rushing score against Buffalo. In four appearances with the Cowboys last season, he went 15 of 24 for 183 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Milton becomes the fourth quarterback to take a snap for the Eagles this season, joining Hurts, McKee and Andy Dalton, who was released after throwing an interception on his only pass attempt during a loss to the Chicago Bears.
The Eagles will turn to Milton when they face the New York Giants (4-2-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
