Joe Milton III is set for his first start with the Philadelphia Eagles, and the timing comes with the team in a rough spot. According to ESPN’s Mike Garafolo and Adam Schefter on Wednesday afternoon, Milton will take over at quarterback this weekend against the New York Giants, with Tanner McKee being benched after three starts.
Philadelphia enters the game at 2-6 and riding a six-game losing streak. The Eagles have also been without Jalen Hurts since Oct. 17, when he was placed on IR after being diagnosed with blood clots in the lungs. Not long after that news surfaced, Philadelphia signed Milton off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.
Milton’s path to this opportunity has moved fast. He spent the offseason in a quarterback battle with free agent signee Sam Howell, but lost out on the job as Dak Prescott’s backup in Dallas.
The Cowboys waived Milton before the season, then brought him back to the practice squad after he cleared waivers. He never made Dallas’ active roster this year.
Before landing in Dallas, Milton had been drafted by the Patriots and later traded to the Cowboys ahead of the 2025 season. He spent last year as Prescott’s backup and saw only limited action in garbage-time situations. Even with many expecting him to hold the No. 2 role again this season, Dallas changed course after adding Howell.
Milton’s preseason work offered a mixed but encouraging snapshot. He played well in his first two preseason games, then had a final outing that left more to be desired.
Still, the overall takeaway was that he looked better across nearly every part of his game. In three preseason games for the Cowboys, he threw for 392 yards and four touchdowns while completing 67.4% of his passes.
He came off the bench in the opener and started the final two games.
Across two seasons, Milton has appeared in five games for the Patriots and Cowboys. In those outings, he has passed for 424 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 69.8% of his throws.
Milton and the Eagles will face the Giants on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox.
In Other News...
Noah Fifita And Arizona Face A Real Friday Night Test
Friday night in Tucson brings a Big 12 matchup that should tell us a lot about where Arizona and TCU really stand. Arizona comes in leading the conference in passing offense behind Noah Fifita, and the Wildcats will lean on that strength against a Horned Frogs defense that has been one of the leagues toughest against the pass and has also set the pace in scoring defense.
For TCU, the trip is another chance to steady an offense that has been searching for answers, while Arizona has its own questions after both teams have had trouble getting much going on the ground. If the Wildcats can turn this into a clean aerial game, they can put real pressure on a TCU unit built to make life difficult through the air. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Defense Faces Its Biggest Big 12 Test Yet In Arizona
Arizonas passing game is about to put TCUs defense in a different kind of spotlight, with quarterback Noah Fifita at the center of it. The Horned Frogs have spent much of the season leaning on a defense that has been one of the leagues best, and now they get a test that asks whether that group can keep a polished, experienced passer from dictating the pace. Sonny Dykes and senior safety Jamel Johnson both pointed to Fifitas accuracy and mobility as the traits that make him such a difficult matchup.
For TCU, the challenge is less about simply getting stops and more about handling a quarterback who can extend plays and punish mistakes in the passing game. Arizonas offense has the kind of rhythm that can stress a secondary snap after snap, which is why this trip feels like such a measuring stick for the Horned Frogs. If TCU can make Fifita uncomfortable early, it could say plenty about how far this defense has come. [Read more 🡒]
Sonny Dykes Just Fueled A Bigger TCU Debate Than Ever
TCUs latest football conversation has drifted well beyond the field, with Sonny Dykes fielding questions at a recent press conference about the temperature around his job and the noise that comes with it. The Horned Frogs coach said he did not notice the negative reactions from fans and kept the focus on the work in front of the program, even as the scrutiny around him has only grown louder.
Dykes also pushed back on a report about TCUs football payroll, saying the number being circulated was not accurate and that the programs budget is much closer to $30 million, which would put it near the top of the Big 12. He acknowledged that coaches live with constant pressure and social media criticism, but said he does not let any of it change how he approaches the job, leaving the bigger debate around the program very much alive. [Read more 🡒]