NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the Eagles are turning to Joe Milton III as their starting quarterback for Sunday’s Week 9 matchup against the Giants. Milton replaces Tanner McKee less than a month after joining Philadelphia, bringing a rocket arm and intriguing rushing upside.
Milton flashed in his lone appearance as a rookie in 2024, throwing for 241 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing score against Buffalo’s backups. If neither DeVonta Smith (hamstring) nor Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) can suit up, he’ll be relying heavily on Dallas Goedert, Makai Lemon, and Darius Cooper. Milton’s arm talent and rushing upside make him an intriguing Superflex add, though starting him in Week 9 carries some risk if his supporting cast is depleted.
Eagles quarterback Cole Payton currently sits fourth on the...
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Cole Payton's impressive ...
Eagles superstar QB Jalen Hurts will miss the rest of the season after multiple blood clots were discovered in his lungs. The NFLPA is calling for a full investigation into the medical care provided to Hurts after he was cleared to play Week 5 vs. Jacksonville after initial discovery of a blood clot in his leg and allowed to fly home from London – as flying with blood clots poses life-threatening risks. The NFL, for its part, has defended the Eagles medical process involving Hurts.
Hurts will be placed on blood thinners for 3-6 months and the prognosis is for a full recovery ahead of the 2027 season. The Eagles and fantasy football managers now turn to Tanner McKee at QB. This could mean targets are consolidated and heavy usage for DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, while ancillary pieces such as Dontayvion Wicks and Makai Lemon (already off to a slow start to his career) will be hurt. Saquon Barkley may find less running room but more opportunities overall going forward may offset the added defensive attention. Rookie Cole Payton is now elevated to the backup QB and the Eagles signed Joe Milton III from the Cowboys practice squad to be the 3rd QB.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday on Good Morning Football that Jalen Hurts is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a superficial blood clot in his calf. Hurts was initially cleared and played in Week 5, but a follow-up ultrasound Wednesday night revealed that the clot had moved, creating a dangerous health situation. Tanner McKee will start in his absence, with rookie Cole Payton also on the roster. The Eagles have since signed Joe Milton III off the Cowboys’ practice squad to bolster their quarterback depth.
McKee, a 2023 sixth-round pick out of Stanford, has two previous NFL starts, both coming in meaningless Week 18 contests in which the Eagles rested their top offensive players. Across those starts he threw for 510 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception while completing 59% of his passes. His ability to support Philadelphia’s fantasy weapons remains largely unknown. Payton, a 2026 fifth-round pick out of North Dakota State, possesses a Konami Code skill set, running a 4.56-second 40-yard dash at the combine and boasting a 99th-percentile Burst Score on PlayerProfiler. Payton rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final collegiate season and could provide a spark with his dual-threat ability. Meanwhile, DeVonta Smith returned to practice Thursday after missing time with a hamstring injury, while Saquon Barkley has yet to practice, putting his Week 6 availability in doubt ahead of a matchup with a Panthers defense that ranks near the bottom in yards per play allowed.
