Joe Milton III is getting the nod for Philadelphia.
According to multiple reports, the former Tennessee quarterback has been named the Eagles’ starter for Sunday’s matchup with the New York Giants. Philadelphia signed Milton off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad on Oct. 16, and now he’s set to take over in a game against an NFC East opponent.
Milton’s path to this moment has been a winding one. He spent the preseason competing with Sam Howell for Dak Prescott’s backup job in Dallas, but the Cowboys went with Howell and waived Milton.
After he cleared waivers, Dallas brought him back on the practice squad. In 2025, Milton served as Prescott’s backup and appeared in four games off the bench.
Before that, Milton’s NFL journey started in New England. The Patriots selected him in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he made one appearance for them in Week 18 that season.
His college resume at Tennessee is where he first made his name. After transferring from Michigan, Milton started 16 of 29 games across his final three seasons with the Volunteers.
One of his biggest moments came in 2022 when he filled in for an injured Hendon Hooker and helped lead Tennessee past No. 7 Clemson in the Orange Bowl, earning MVP honors in the process.
Over three seasons with the Vols, Milton completed 314 of 498 passes for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns with five interceptions. He also piled up 4,664 yards of total offense, including 505 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.
Milton now takes over for a Philadelphia team in rough shape at 2-6. The Eagles were hit hard when Jalen Hurts landed on injured reserve, with reports saying Hurts has multiple blood clots and will miss the rest of the season. Philadelphia first turned to Tanner McKee, who has completed 72 of 114 passes for 638 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Even earlier this week, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni sounded firm on McKee, saying, “Tanner is our guy. We are not making any changes there.” Two days later, the job has changed hands.
The Eagles and Giants will kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
In Other News...
Tennessee Just Got More CFP Motivation Than Vols Fans Can Ignore
The first College Football Playoff rankings gave Tennessee a spot at No. 13, while Alabama landed at No. 5, a placement that caught plenty of attention after the Vols beat the Crimson Tide on the field. CFP Committee Chair Hunter Yurachek pointed to Alabamas stronger collection of quality wins as the reason behind the early gap, which only adds another layer to a race Tennessee still has time to influence.
For a Vols team still chasing its best path forward, the message is pretty clear: the opening rankings are only a snapshot, not a verdict. Tennessees upcoming games now carry even more weight, because a strong finish could reshape how the committee views the resume and give the Vols a chance to climb when the next set of rankings arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Milton Just Landed The NFL Opportunity Tennessee Fans Waited For
Joe Miltons next chance arrives in a spot Tennessee fans know well: under the bright lights, with a real opportunity to show what made him such a compelling arm talent in Knoxville. The Philadelphia Eagles have named the former Volunteers quarterback their starter for Week 9 against the New York Giants, a move that bumps Tanner McKee aside and gives Milton his first NFL start after being taken in the sixth round of the 2024 draft.
It is the kind of opening that can change a young quarterbacks trajectory, especially with Philadelphia dealing with injuries to key players and Jalen Hurts already out for the season. For Tennessee supporters, it is a familiar kind of wait, finally turning into a chance to see Milton get meaningful NFL reps and a chance to prove he belongs on that stage. [Read more 🡒]
Even A Former Alabama QB Thinks Tennessee Got Jobbed
The latest College Football Playoff rankings have only deepened the frustration around Tennessees spot at No. 13, especially with Alabama sitting at No. 5 despite the Volunteers head-to-head win over the Crimson Tide. The debate has spilled beyond Knoxville, too, with former Alabama quarterback and ESPN broadcaster Greg McElroy among those openly questioning how the committee is weighing Tennessees resume against Alabamas.
What has made the reaction louder is the committees shifting emphasis from week to week, with head-to-head results carrying real weight in some cases and seeming to fade in others. Tennessees supporters have every reason to feel the inconsistency, and the broader issue now is whether the rankings are rewarding the right things or simply creating more confusion as the playoff picture tightens. [Read more 🡒]