The Philadelphia Eagles are turning to a division rival to reinforce their quarterback room while Jalen Hurts deals with a blood clot in his calf. According to multiple reports, the Eagles are set to sign Joe Milton off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad, a move that will place him on the active roster for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.
Hurts has been ruled out by the team with what it described as a superficial blood clot in his calf. Backup Tanner McKee will start in his place as Philadelphia looks to snap a three-game losing streak. The timeline for Hurts' return remains unclear, and the team has not indicated whether it expects him to miss an extended period.
NFL rules require any player signed from another team's practice squad to be placed on the new team's 53-man roster, so Milton will be active when the Eagles host the Panthers. The move could also push rookie Cole Payton out of the backup role. Payton, a fifth-round pick in April's draft, has appeared in just one game this season and has yet to attempt a pass in a regular-season game.
Milton has slightly more NFL experience, though he has never started a game. In limited action, he has shown both mobility and the arm strength that made him an intriguing prospect. He spent the past five weeks on Dallas' practice squad after Sam Howell won the Cowboys' backup job during the offseason, a decision Milton described at the time as surprising.
«It was shocking. But it's life. You got to be able to live with it and deliver blows back when it's time,» Milton said.
The Eagles released a statement detailing how Hurts' blood clot was discovered. The team said Hurts visited the training room after practice on October 8 requesting treatment for his calf and informed the medical staff he had been cleated during the Rams game on October 4. It was his first treatment session for the calf injury following the game, after he had practiced in full on both Wednesday and Thursday.
According to the statement, team doctors recommended a follow-up scan after the game. An ultrasound performed on Saturday following the team's flight to London and walkthrough revealed a superficial blood clot. Medical staff and doctors in London reviewed the results and concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Hurts could safely play. Doctors recommended a follow-up ultrasound within 72 hours of the game and the return flight to Philadelphia.
Hurts was considered a full participant in Friday's practice leading into last Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars despite dealing with the calf injury, and he was not on the injury report for the game in London. He has thrown for 933 yards and eight touchdowns in five games this season.
Since taking over as the Eagles' starting quarterback, Hurts has largely embodied the idea that availability is a player's best ability. The Super Bowl LIX MVP started all 17 games in 2023, missed two games with a concussion in 2024 and sat out Philadelphia's regular-season finale that year as the Eagles rested most of their starters ahead of the playoffs. McKee filled in for Hurts in Week 18 to close the 2025 season and will be called upon again this Sunday.
For now, the Eagles are balancing immediate needs with uncertainty about their franchise quarterback. Adding Milton gives the team an experienced arm behind McKee and insurance if Hurts' absence extends beyond this weekend. Whether the signing signals a longer timeline for Hurts' recovery is not yet known.