SIRIANNI, EAGLES MAKE CHANGE AT QUARTERBACK

Joe Milton will make his NFL debut for the Eagles against the Giants. Photo from NFL.com

The Philadelphia Eagles are suffering through a six-game losing streak. After starting the season 2-0, the Birds have been hammered with more injuries than anyone can remember.

The Eagles and head coach Nick Sirianni are still reeling from the sudden retirement of future Hall of Fame right tackle Lane Johnson.

Jalen Hurts is out for the foreseeable future after coming down with blood clots in his leg and lungs.

Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman jettisoned backup quarterback Andy Dalton after it was obvious he wasn't a good fit.

The next option under center, Tanner McKee, hasn't been able get first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion's offense to click. The Birds offensive statistics read like a Stephen King Novel.

The Eagles Special Teams' mistakes likely were the deciding factor in two of the losses and the defense has made a habit of fading in the fourth quarter.

Eagles players in locker rooms at Jefferson Health Training Complex and at the Linc have the faces of people on a full plane of passengers in the third hour of a runway delay.

In dire need of a spark, the Eagles announced Wednesday they were starting back up Joe Milton.

Never heard of him? Here is a thumbnail bio of the 6-foot-5, 235-pound quarterback.

The New England Patriots selected him in the 6th round (193rd overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft. He flashed in his 2024 regular-season debut against Buffalo, throwing for 241 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another score.

Milton was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, he appeared in a handful of games in backup and mop-up roles before moving to their practice squad.

The Eagles signed him off the Cowboys' practice squad on October 16, 2026 after Hurts was sidelined with blood clots.

Milton played six seasons as a college quarterback, utilizing an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

His college career was split between two major programs: Michigan (2018–2020): 3 seasons and Tennessee (2021–2023): 3 seasons.

He wasn't a regular starter until 2023 at Tennessee. He led the Volunteers to an 8–4 record.

Milton was 229 of 354 for 2,813 yards, 20 TDs, five interceptions. He rushed 78 times for 299 yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

On Friday, Sirianni was asked what made him make this move.

“Obviously, that's always a difficult thing to think through because it isn't ever just on one person.” Siranni said. “Matter of fact, I think Tanner played solid, but this is just what I felt like we needed to do right at this particular moment to give ourselves the best chance to win this weekend.”

Coach was asked about Milton's skillset and if he believes starting him gives his team the best chance to win.”

“Obviously, he's talented, and he's been here for a couple weeks now, “Sirianni said. “Very talented arm, very talented athlete, can process and make decisions out there. Just a lot of good qualities that he has. I like his confidence and everything that he brings, and it's been fun getting to know him and working with him.”

The sixth-year head coach was asked if it was his decision alone.

“At the end of the day, I have to make the decision based off of that,” He said. “But every decision that we make, we talk through in great, great detail.

“Obviously, Howie and I talk in great detail, the offensive staff and I, [Quarterbacks Coach] Parks [Frazier] and Sean and everybody. We just talk through it. At the end of the day, my job as the head coach is to make these decisions that I think is best for the football team, but you discuss everything with everybody.” *

Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com