After Jalen Hurts' health scare, the Philadelphia Eagles moved quickly to add extra insurance by signing quarterback Joe Milton off the Cowboys' practice squad. Doctors ruled Hurts out for Sunday's game vs. Carolina after discovering a blood clot in his calf, and he could miss an extended time, leaving the Eagles thin at QB.
The Patriots drafted Milton, 26, in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and later traded him to Dallas, where he spent the last year backing up Dak Prescott. Milton has genuinely impressive arm strength and showcased that ability during the 2026 preseason. Across three exhibition games, Milton went 29-for-43 for 378 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Joe Milton III put his arm on full display tonight 🚀 9/13,
179 YDS, 3 Total TDs, 0 INT. What team needs to call up Dallas for Milton? pic.twitter.com/U1Nq7Drx8c
— Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) August 23, 2026
However, his strong performances weren't enough to beat veteran Sam Howell for the QB2 spot. Dallas waived Milton and then re-signed him to the practice squad once he cleared waivers. Milton has completed 37 of 53 passes for 424 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in five regular-season appearances, adding 66 rushing yards and a touchdown. Standing at 6-foot-5 with 4.5 speed, a quarterback with Milton's upside is always worth a closer look.
This Sunday, Tanner McKee is set to start against the Panthers, with rookie Cole Payton behind him. If McKee struggles, Milton could get extensive playing time down the line, especially if Hurts isn't available for the foreseeable future. The real silver lining is that we've avoided watching another snap of Andy Dalton.
Here is a look at Joe Milton's scouting report coming into the league:
Rare physical specimen with the proverbial "arm talent to make all the NFL throws," but he's prevented from doing so by a lack of timing, accuracy, and touch. Milton is gifted with a cannon for a right arm and can throw the ball as hard or as far as you want. His fastballs are often inaccurate and difficult to catch for moving targets, and he was wildly inconsistent locating his deep throws.
He can elude pressure, extend plays, and put jaw-dropping highlights on tape, but he's never been able to mature his game from splashy to consistent. He's primarily a single-side reader who struggles to improvise with his eyes. His physical traits could get him drafted on Day 3, but his lack of development over six seasons hurts his projection.
Joe Milton III drops a dime to Tolbert for the TD 💰
— NFL (@NFL) October 26, 2025
DALvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/45XqBpOnRf
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: What does Joe Milton bring to the Eagles’ quarterback room?
