The Philadelphia Eagles have signed quarterback Joe Milton off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad after Jalen Hurts was ruled out for Sunday’s game with a superficial blood clot in his leg. Under NFL rules, Milton will join the Eagles’ 53-man roster rather than their practice squad, providing depth in the quarterback room amid uncertainty over Hurts’s availability beyond Week 6.
Hurts was sidelined ahead of Philadelphia’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers due to the clot, which requires treatment. The team has not confirmed how long Hurts will be out, but the move to add Milton suggests the star quarterback could miss multiple games.
Milton, a third-year pro drafted in the sixth round by the New England Patriots in 2024, will be on his third NFL team in less than three seasons. He spent time primarily on practice squads and has taken limited snaps in five games across two seasons without starting. His arrival in Philadelphia comes in an unusual transaction between NFC East rivals, the Eagles and Cowboys.
Joining Milton in the Eagles’ quarterback room are backup Tanner McKee and rookie Cole Payton. McKee, a 2023 sixth-round pick, is expected to start against Carolina. The 26-year-old has appeared in six games over two seasons and previously started twice. His most recent start was in Week 18 of last season, where he was sacked three times and threw an interception in a 24-17 loss to Washington, as the Eagles rested Hurts before the playoffs.
Milton’s addition puts the Eagles in position to have three quarterbacks active for Sunday’s game, with McKee likely to take the reins in Hurts’s absence. The team has not announced whether Payton or Milton will be active beyond serving as McKee’s immediate backup.
Philadelphia’s decision to sign Milton from Dallas marks a rare case of talent moving directly between two fierce division rivals. The Cowboys had kept Milton on their practice squad after he did not make their main roster.
Hurts’s condition remains the focus for the Eagles, who depend heavily on the quarterback’s dual-threat capabilities. Treatment for the blood clot will determine how long he stays on the sidelines. Meanwhile, the Eagles will lean on McKee’s experience and Milton’s potential to maintain stability at the position.
The quarterback shuffle comes as the Eagles look to maintain momentum in a competitive NFC East. Their Week 6 game against the Panthers will be the first test of their reshaped quarterback group. The team has yet to clarify the full scope of Hurts’s absence or detail Milton’s role beyond being signed to the active roster.
According to Yahoo Sports.
