Joe Milton has been an Eagle for three weeks. On Sunday he makes his first NFL start, with a 2-6 team on a six-game losing streak, against the first-place New York Giants. “I’m going to play my game and stay within the offense and that’s the job,” Milton said. “It’s football and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to lead this team and play the game I love. This is a great opportunity.”
Philadelphia hosts the 4-2-1 Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, November 8, at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX, which is 8:00 p.m. in Cairo. Milton will be the Eagles’ third starting quarterback this season, after Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee.
“You have to be ready to be on the field at all times”
Nick Sirianni made the change this week. He kept Sean Mannion as the play-caller but benched McKee, who went 0-3 as the starter after Hurts was lost for the season with blood clots. The move came about two days after Sirianni had said McKee was still his quarterback. Milton said a sudden switch like this is simply how the league works.
“That’s the thing,” he said Thursday. “We all know that you have to be ready to be on the field at all times. So, I’m going to be ready on Sunday. We still have work to do and time to get everything we need to do in order, so we’re going to keep chipping away and then on Sunday go out there and play our game against the New York Giants.”
“I’m the oldest of seven kids”
The Eagles signed Milton off the Dallas practice squad on October 16, and he has been the backup behind McKee for the last two games. He said learning a new system that fast was not new for him. “I’m going to do what the coaches ask me to do and move forward,” he said. “I’ve adjusted well. I’m the oldest of seven kids in my family so that is something I had to do early in my life. I’m good at adapting. The coaches have done a great job of helping me, explaining things to me, and taking time to get me ready.”
“They’ve been great and I feel comfortable with the offense and knowing what I need to know,” Milton added. “I know that in the NFL you have to prepare for any moment that presents itself. I’ve studied hard and I’ve worked hard. I like everything about the offense.” He said he is trying to stay “where my feet are.”
A big arm and only 53 passes
Milton, 26, was a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2024 after playing at Michigan and Tennessee. He has appeared in five NFL games, all in relief, and has completed 37 of 53 passes for 424 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. His last game action came against this same Giants team, in Dallas’ season finale in January, when he went 7 of 13 for 73 yards and an interception. He was also briefly a teammate of Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Michigan in 2020.
Sirianni pointed to his talent. “Very talented arm, very talented athlete, can process and make decisions out there,” he said. “I like his confidence and everything that he brings, and it’s been fun getting to know him and working with him.” He also praised Milton’s work habits: “He works extremely hard. He’s always in the building doing the extra things, and I like his progression.”
McKee said he will support the new starter. “I’m here to help us win, no matter what that means,” he said. “I am going to stay ready and learn from the experience and be at my best when my number is called again. Joe is doing a great job and I think he’s going to go out there and play a good game on Sunday.”
What Milton faces on Sunday
The task is a hard one. The Giants are third in the NFL against the pass, allowing 184.9 yards per game, and they have scored 27 or more points in four straight games. Milton called them “a great team, a physical defense and one that communicates well, executes, and makes plays.” The Eagles are 27th in passing offense at 177.1 yards per game and will be without receivers DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, so Milton will lean on Makai Lemon, Darius Cooper, Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore, with Saquon Barkley on track to play.
There is one thing on Philadelphia’s side: the Eagles have beaten the Giants 13 straight times at home, including one playoff game, since October 27, 2013. Sunday is their last game before the bye, and when Milton throws his first pass, the Eagles will have had four different quarterbacks attempt a pass in one season for the first time since 1991.
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