🦅 Go, Joe, Go! | Sports Daily Newsletter
Joe Milton is will start at QB for the Eagles on Sunday.
OK, so we know most of Philly views this Eagles season as a wrap.
However, the franchise made a decision and yesterday to give Joe Milton the keys to the offense ahead of Sunday’s game against the NFC East-leading New York Giants is intriguing.
The news of Milton’s takeover arrived midday yesterday, and almost immediately it reminded me of another NFL journeyman who transformed an Eagles season for the better: Jeff Garcia.
For those too young to remember, in 2006, after quarterback Donovan McNabb went down with an injury, Garcia stepped in and stepped up, leading the Birds to the playoffs. We’re not saying that Milton is going to do that in Week 9, but in a season with so much bad, what if Milton is the good the Eagles need?
Of course, getting healthy at receiver and running back wouldn’t hurt, either.
Any who …
Here’s more on the Eagles’ decision to give Milton a shot on Sunday, and
More on Milton, his history, and his intangibles.
Rain is in the forecast for your Thursday, but a bit of good news: highs are expected to hit the 70s once again.
— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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❓What do you think about the Eagles switching up their QB situation? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.
The Sixers are now 8-1 following a massive 112-106 win against the Detroit Pistons last night. That one loss on the Sixers’ season? To the Pistons.
The difference on Wednesday night? The Sixers had their full squad, and it showed as the team led by as much as 18 points and had all five starters scored in double figures, including LeBron James, who finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Next up for the Sixers is group stage play of the NBA Cup against the Cavaliers (7:30 p.m., Prime Video).
Oh, and a side note for you sneakerheads out there … did you see Reebok is reviving Allen Iverson’s iconic “Question” shoe? With a few upgrades at that.
What we’re …
📖 Reading: The number of players you, our readers, chose to save on this current Eagles team. Spoiler alert: The pickings were slim.
🏈 Learning: The science behind the Tush Push, as told by Jason Kelce on the latest installment of “New Heights.”
⚾ Watching: Former Phillies utility player Garrett Stubbs’ take on the impending MLB lockout.
🛩️ Sharing: Savannah James on LeBron’s move to Philly and the new reality of navigating being in three different spots.
This year’s MLB offseason will be different from most, with the looming expiration of MLB’s collective bargaining agreement on Dec. 1.
Our focus is on the Phillies and what moves, both incoming and outgoing, could be on the horizon. Inquirer writer Lochlahn March created this primer looking at everything, from the lockout, the dates you need to know and what moves the Phillies have to make.
The Flyers have yet to truly recover from their record nine-game winless streak to start the year. Despite their 4-9-4 record, Rick Tocchet thinks his team is slowly improving.
“I’ll be the first guy to admit [it], we have been awful all year early on on [winning pucks], but I think we’ve gotten better,” Tocchet said after Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to Minnesota.
“Where there’s been 50-50 pucks, we’ve come out with them. I thought a little bit more tonight again, so that is something that we are improving on. It makes a difference because then you’re getting more chances or more shots or more action at the net.”
Speaking of getting better, Gabriela Carroll wrote about Denver Barkey, the unsung hero of the Flyers’ suddenly competent power play.
Next: The Flyers kick off a five-game road trip in New York tonight against the Rangers (7 p.m., NBCSP).
In the final FIFA international date of 2026, U.S. Soccer will pair Christian Pulisic, who is on another tear with his club team AC Milan, with Union phenom Cavan Sullivan. It’s set to be a potentially explosive pairing that should aid the U.S. in progressing in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Haiti on Nov. 14 (4:30 p.m., TBS, Universo).
Additionally, four other players with local ties cracked U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man roster, setting up another opportunity to see homegrown talent on the highest stage. Jonathan Tannenwald breaks down the roster and the duo of Cavan and Christian.
On this date
Oct. 5, 2022: The Phillies would find themselves on the losing end of a 4-1 final in Game 6 that lifted the Houston Astros to their second World Series title. It was a game that would see longtime Astros manager Dusty Baker become the oldest manager to win a pennant at 73 years young.
“The most likely outcome is not that [Joe] Milton plays well enough to enter the offseason as the Eagles’ presumptive QB2 for 2027. But it is at least a potential outcome, which is more than you can say for [Tanner] McKee.” — In his latest, Murphy takes a look at what the Eagles stand to gain from starting Joe Milton over Tanner McKee on Sunday.
What you’re saying about sports moments
We asked: What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever witnessed at a sporting event?
For all of us who weren’t old enough to remember the Miracle in the Meadowlands in 1978 and barely old enough to remember Brian Westbrook’s incredible punt return to beat the Giants in 2003 — Giants Stadium has seen some incredible moments at the end of games for the Eagles.
What I saw during the Holidays of 2010 — was one of those moments. It was hard to be surrounded by Giants’ fans all basking in the glory of a 31–10 lead late in the 4th quarter. But then Michael Vick found Brent Celek for a 56-yard touchdown with just under eight minutes left in the game. The Eagles then recovered an onside kick, and Vick ran in from six yards out to bring the score to 31–24.
The Giants faithful were silenced again when Vick found Jeremy Maclin for a 13-yard score to tie the game at 31–31. Everyone in that stadium knew what was possible when DeSean Jackson secured the football and then ran for a 65-yard punt return touchdown to win the game 38–31 — placing pure disbelief on the faces of New York fans. — Michael L.
I saw the Santa Claus snowball throwing game at the Vet in 1968 on a cold, miserable day. I once saw a fan run out on the court at Convention Hall during a Sixers game. I think, but not sure, that the ref was Mendy Rudolph. — Everett S.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Olivia Reiner, Mike Livingston, Chris Hine, Devin Jackson, Matt Mullin, Scott Lauber, Lochlahn March, David Murphy, Jackie Spiegel, Gabriela Carroll, Jonathan Tannenwald, Ariel Simpson, and Mia Messina.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
That’s your Thursday. I’ll be spending mine tonight finishing that Tyson documentary on Netflix. If you haven’t seen it, definitely recommend it. I’ll be back tomorrow to get you set for a full sports weekend. — Kerith
