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Eagles Sign QB Joe Milton Off Cowboys' Practice Squad After Hurts Injury
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In brief
The Philadelphia Eagles signed quarterback Joe Milton off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad on October 16, 2026, days after starter Jalen Hurts was ruled out indefinitely with a superficial blood clot in his calf. NFL rules required the Eagles to place Milton straight onto their 53-man roster, setting up a possible matchup against his former team.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed quarterback Joe Milton away from the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad on October 16, 2026, according to the Cowboys' official website and CBS Sports. The move came days after Eagles starter Jalen Hurts was ruled out indefinitely because of a superficial blood clot in his calf.
The signing
Under NFL rules, a player signed off another club's practice squad must be placed directly on the signing team's active 53-man roster for a minimum of three games, the Cowboys' site reported. That means Milton skips Philadelphia's practice squad entirely and joins the Eagles' active roster alongside Tanner McKee and rookie Cole Payton.
Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer reacted to losing Milton by saying, "I think it's a great opportunity for Joe... I'm sad to see him go, but I hope he gets every opportunity," according to the Cowboys' report.
Why Hurts is out
Hurts first felt calf discomfort after being cleated during Philadelphia's Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, NFL.com reported. He kept practicing and traveled with the team to London for the Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
An ultrasound performed in London on the Saturday before that game found a superficial blood clot. The Eagles said in a statement reported by NFL.com that "our medical staff and doctors in London reviewed the results and concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Jalen could safely play." Hurts went on to complete 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville.
A follow-up exam the following Wednesday showed movement in the clot, prompting the Eagles to rule Hurts out for the Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers, NFL.com reported. Through five games this season, Hurts has thrown for 933 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions on a 57.8% completion rate.
Milton's path to Philadelphia
Milton, 26, was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2024 and traded to Dallas in 2025, CBS Sports reported. He competed for the Cowboys' backup quarterback job in camp and preseason but lost the spot to Sam Howell. Dallas waived him in late-August roster cuts and then re-signed him to its practice squad, the Cowboys' site reported.
Milton has thrown just 53 passes across three NFL seasons, according to CBS Sports. Reacting to the move, Milton said, "I'm still the best quarterback in my eyes. It is what it is," according to CBS Sports.
Eagles' quarterback room now
| Player | Status | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Jalen Hurts | Out indefinitely | Superficial blood clot in calf; 933 yds, 8 TD, 3 INT through 5 games (NFL.com) |
| Tanner McKee | Starting in Hurts' absence | Listed as backup on Philadelphia's depth chart (CBS Sports) |
| Joe Milton | Signed Oct. 16, 2026 | 53 career pass attempts over 3 NFL seasons; ex-Patriots, ex-Cowboys (CBS Sports) |
| Cole Payton | Rookie, third on roster | On Eagles' active roster alongside McKee and Milton (CBS Sports) |
CBS Sports reported the signing signals Hurts could miss multiple weeks, citing an ESPN report describing him as out "until this situation is solved." CBS Sports noted the Eagles could place Hurts on injured reserve, which could allow him to return after Philadelphia's Week 10 bye.
The Cowboys' site noted the move sets up a possible reunion: Dallas and Philadelphia are scheduled to meet on Monday Night Football on October 26, raising the possibility Milton could face his former team within weeks of signing.
Questions
- Why did the Eagles sign Joe Milton?
- Philadelphia needed quarterback depth after starter Jalen Hurts was ruled out indefinitely with a superficial blood clot in his calf, according to the Cowboys' site and CBS Sports.
- What is Jalen Hurts' injury?
- A superficial blood clot was found in his calf during a London ultrasound before Week 5; a follow-up exam showed the clot had moved, leading the Eagles to rule him out for Week 6, per NFL.com.
- Who starts at quarterback for the Eagles now?
- Tanner McKee is starting in Hurts' absence, according to CBS Sports and NFL.com.
- Why did Milton have to go straight to the Eagles' 53-man roster?
- NFL rules require that a player signed off another team's practice squad be placed directly on the signing club's active roster, as reported by the Cowboys' official site.
- Could Joe Milton play against his former team, the Cowboys?
- The Cowboys' site noted Dallas and Philadelphia are scheduled to meet on Monday Night Football on October 26, raising that possibility.
Sources
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