PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles are signing quarterback Joe Milton off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad to their 53-man roster, multiple outlets reported, adding depth at the position after starter Jalen Hurts was ruled out due to a blood clot in his leg.
Under NFL rules, Milton must join Philadelphia’s active roster rather than its practice squad. The move came after the team announced Hurts would miss Sunday’s Week 6 contest against the Carolina Panthers while doctors determine how to treat a superficial blood clot.
Uncertainty around Hurts triggers roster move
According to an Eagles statement reported by Bleacher Report, the clot was initially found during an ultrasound following a Saturday walkthrough before Philadelphia’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. A follow-up ultrasound on Wednesday detected movement in the clot, prompting the team to sideline Hurts while he receives medical evaluation.
Philadelphia has not established a public timetable for Hurts’ return beyond Sunday. The signing of Milton provides an additional arm if Hurts faces an extended absence, Yahoo Sports reported.
Fourth-year quarterback Tanner McKee is expected to make his third career NFL start on Sunday against Carolina. McKee, a 2023 sixth-round draft pick, has appeared in six games over the past two seasons. His most recent start came in Week 18 of last season, when the Eagles rested Hurts ahead of the playoffs in a 24-17 defeat against the Washington Commanders.
Rookie Cole Payton, a fifth-round selection from North Dakota State in the 2026 draft, had been the only other quarterback on the active roster prior to Milton’s arrival. Veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, who opened the season as the primary backup, was released by Philadelphia on Oct. 9, Bleacher Report reported.
Milton’s career journey across division lines
Milton, who entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2024 draft, is now joining his third team. New England traded him to Dallas in April 2025. After competing for a roster spot during training camp this summer, Milton was waived at the end of the preseason and signed to the Cowboys’ practice squad.
Across five career regular-season appearances with New England and Dallas, the 26-year-old Milton has completed 37 of 53 passes for 424 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing for 66 yards and a score, according to NBC Sports. He has never started an NFL regular-season game.
During the 2026 preseason, Milton completed 29 of 43 pass attempts for 378 yards and three touchdowns without an interception for Dallas, Eagles Wire reported.
What comes next for Philadelphia
Because Milton is just arriving in Philadelphia, Payton is projected to serve as McKee’s primary backup against Carolina on Sunday afternoon. Milton will need time to learn the Eagles’ playbook under offensive coordinator Sean Mannion before potentially rising on the depth chart.
The Eagles enter Sunday’s home matchup looking to halt a three-game slide. After starting the season 2-0, Philadelphia has fallen to 2-3, dropping below .500 for the first time since the 2021 season. Beyond Sunday, team medical staff will continue to evaluate Hurts to determine when the Pro Bowl quarterback can safely resume football activities.
