Eagles Sign Joe Milton Off Cowboys Practice Squad After Jalen Hurts Injury—What It Means for Week 7

The Philadelphia Eagles have plucked quarterback Joe Milton III off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, a move triggered by Jalen Hurts’ unforeseen blood-clot setback that could sideline the MVP candidate for several weeks. Milton, 26, brings one of the NFL’s strongest arms and a 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame that first turned heads at Michigan before he rebooted his college career at Tennessee, where he threw 20 touchdown passes against just five interceptions in 2024 while leading the Volunteers to an Orange Bowl berth. Dallas initially released the former sixth-round pick at final cuts in August but re-signed him to the practice squad after he posted a 117.4 preseason passer rating; Wednesday’s signing means the Eagles must keep Milton on their 53-man roster for at least three weeks, per NFL rules. Philadelphia’s depth chart now features Milton behind second-year pro Tanner McKee, with veteran Marcus Mariota inactive on injured reserve. Head coach Nick Sirianni praised Milton’s “vertical-passing upside” and hinted that designed run packages—Milton clocked 21.3 mph on a 44-yard keeper last preseason—could be sprinkled in as early as Week 7 at Washington. For Milton, the opportunity is a rapid ascent from scout-team signal-caller to potential game-day contributor. For the Eagles, it’s a calculated gamble on elite arm talent that could keep the offense afloat—and create a buzzworthy quarterback storyline—until Hurts returns.