The Eagles changed their quarterback plan on Friday and decided to start Joe Milton against the Giants, moving Tanner McKee out of the role for this weekend. Nick Sirianni said the switch was made to give the team its best chance to win now, not later.
That is why Eagles Score Today is drawing attention: the change lands just before a game that will shape the offense for at least one week, and maybe more. Sirianni said McKee had played solid, but the club still moved to Milton after a closer look at the film and a fresh plan for the next game.
The move also reflects what the coaching staff sees in Milton. Sirianni pointed to a talented arm, athletic ability, confidence and the ability to process and make decisions, saying it had been fun getting to know him and work with him. The coach added that the Eagles had only had Milton in Philadelphia for a couple of weeks, which makes the timing of the switch more striking.
The decision was not made in isolation. Sirianni said he discussed it in great detail with Howie Roseman, the offensive staff, Parks Frazier and Sean Mannion before settling on the change. He also said the team initially expected to keep McKee in place after the Sunday night game, but shifted course after reviewing the film and planning for the next matchup.
There is a clear reason the Eagles kept the news quiet until Friday. Sirianni said the team wanted to limit the opponent's preparation time, because every hour matters when a game is only days away. He framed the choice as part of a bigger push to win every game, and said no coaching roles changed as part of the quarterback move.
That leaves one question hanging over Sunday: whether Milton keeps the job beyond this weekend. The Eagles have another quarterback in rookie Cole Payton, but for now the spotlight is on Milton's first chance to show whether the team found a better short-term answer or only changed the plan for one game.
