Why did the Eagles make the quarterback change to Joe Milton? Nick Sirianni explains.
Milton will make his first NFL start after spending the last three weeks on the Eagles roster.
Nick Sirianni on Friday spoke publicly for the first time since benching quarterback Tanner McKee for Joe Milton on Wednesday.
Sirianni said he thought McKee “played solid,” but that he “felt [he] needed to” switch to Milton for a midseason spark, with the team sitting at 2-6 and on a six-game losing streak.
“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,” Sirianni said.
Milton and the Eagles face the NFC East-leading Giants (4-2-1) Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles signed Milton, 26, off the Cowboys’ practice squad to their active roster on Oct. 16 after placing quarterback Jalen Hurts on injured reserve due to blood clots. The Eagles first turned to McKee for three starts, but he was benched after three consecutive losses.
Part of the reason Sirianni pivoted to Milton was because of his arm talent.
“Yeah, 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.”
Milton was Dak Prescott’s backup in Dallas last season and had a strong preseason, tossing for 378 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions on 29 of 43 passing. Dallas waived him in August in favor of former Eagle Sam Howell, before bringing him back to the practice squad.
Milton has five NFL regular season appearances as a member of the New England Patriots and Cowboys under his belt. He’s completed 37 of 53 passes for 424 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions since entering the league in 2024. The Patriots selected him in the sixth round (193rd overall) of the 2024 NFL draft out of Tennessee.
Sirianni also offered an explanation for the unusual way the news leaked out this week.
On Monday, Sirianni said that McKee is “their guy” and added that they wouldn’t be making a quarterback change. On Wednesday, multiple reports surfaced that the Eagles were switching to Milton. On Thursday, Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata — the first two players to speak with reporters during media availability — said McKee and Milton “split reps” at practice. Dallas Goedert revealed the truth minutes later: Milton was the starter.
“I was going to hold on to [the news] as long as I possibly could,” Sirianni said. “I’m not real shy with you guys… I respect the job that y’all have to do, but I’m going to tell you what I want to tell you guys.
“I’m always going to protect the team first and foremost. Every second that goes by in a situation like that that you can hold on to information as long as you possibly can is a little less time for the opponent to get ready for the game.”
With the Eagles’ season gradually going up in flames, there’s been plenty of external fingerpointing. The offense, specifically the line, has drawn considerable ire, especially in light of the Eagles parting ways with longtime, beloved assistant coach Jeff Stoutland. Stoutland’s track record on the offensive line is Hall of Fame-worthy. This year, with Chris Kuper as Stoutland’s replacement, the line has regressed. Should Kuper shoulder most of the blame? What really happened between Stoutland and the Eagles that caused their relationship to fall apart? The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane dives deeper into one of the biggest “what ifs” from a frustrating season, framing Stoutland’s exit around four key questions. Listen here.
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