Eagles reportedly bench Tanner McKee for Joe Milton against Giants in Week 9
Reports on Wednesday said the Philadelphia Eagles will start Joe Milton in place of Tanner McKee against the New York Giants on Sunday, two days after coach Nick Sirianni said McKee would stay in the role. The Eagles are on a six-game losing streak.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly replacing quarterback Tanner McKee with Joe Milton for Sunday's Week 9 game against the New York Giants. IJRRC “The Philadelphia Eagles are replacing Tanner McKee with Joe Milton at quarterback for Sunday’s Week 9 game against the New York Giants” Read at IJR ↗ NewsweekN “Multiple reports said Wednesday the Philadelphia Eagles are making a quarterback switch before Week 9 vs. the New York Giants.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2The change reverses earlier public support from head coach Nick Sirianni, who said on Monday the team was sticking with McKee. NewsweekN “Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said on Monday that the team was sticking with quarterback Tanner McKee” Read at Newsweek ↗ IJRRC “reversing coach Nick Sirianni’s earlier support for McKee” Read at IJR ↗ Mixed · 2McKee started the last three games, all losses, and the Eagles scored just 45 points in that stretch, according to Newsweek. NewsweekN “McKee started each of Philadelphia's last three games, a stretch in which the Eagles have scored just 45 points.” Read at Newsweek ↗ IJRRC “The move follows three losses in McKee’s three starts” Read at IJR ↗
Centre · 1Philadelphia has lost six straight and sits at the bottom of the NFC East at 2-6. NewsweekN “the move comes amid Philadelphia's six-game losing streak that has dropped the Eagles to the bottom of the NFC East at 2-6.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2McKee took over after Jalen Hurts was ruled out, likely for the rest of the season, after being diagnosed with multiple blood clots. NewsweekN “Philadelphia is without starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, likely for the rest of the season, as the three-time Pro Bowler was recently diagnosed with multiple blood clots.” Read at Newsweek ↗ IJRRC “McKee took over after Jalen Hurts was sidelined for the season with blood clots.” Read at IJR ↗ Mixed · 2Milton, a 2024 sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots, was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in April 2025 and signed with the Eagles from the Cowboys' practice squad on Oct. 16; he has not played for Philadelphia, and Sunday is expected to be his first NFL start. NewsweekN “Philadelphia signed Milton off the Cowboys' practice squad on Oct. 16 and Sunday will be his first NFL start.” Read at Newsweek ↗ IJRRC “He joined Philadelphia from the Cowboys’ practice squad, and Sunday is expected to be his first NFL start.” Read at IJR ↗
Mixed · 2The outlets give different career totals for Milton: IJR says he has completed 37 of 53 passes for 424 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in five appearances, while Newsweek lists one rookie game and four with Dallas, going 15-for-24 for 183 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the Dallas games. IJRRC “In five career appearances with New England and Dallas, Milton has completed 37 of 53 passes for 424 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions” Read at IJR ↗ NewsweekN “played in four games as Dak Prescott's backup, going 15-for-24 with 183 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek quoted Eagles reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks calling the decision "kind of a shocking move," and noted the Giants lead the NFC East at 4-2-1 after a Week 8 bye. NewsweekN “Eagles reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks called the decision "kind of a shocking move."”“The Giants are in first place in the NFC East at 4-2-1 and coming off a Week 8 bye.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames the move as a surprising reversal by Sirianni, sourced to reports, with team context and quoted reaction.
- Emphasis
- Sirianni's Monday statement, standings, McKee's season numbers, Milton's background, Giants' form.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give Milton's combined career totals.
- Charged language
- “Massive QB Switch”“kind of a shocking move”
- For example
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“Just two days later, Sirianni has reportedly changed his mind.” — Newsweek
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Short, direct news item announcing the benching and the hope that Milton can spark a struggling offense.
- Emphasis
- McKee's three losses, offense struggling to sustain drives, Milton's career stats.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits standings, the Giants' record, and Sirianni's Monday comments beyond a brief mention of his earlier support.
- Charged language
- “bench”
- For example
-
“hoping the change sparks an offense struggling through a six-game losing streak” — IJR
What every side reports
- The Eagles are reportedly starting Joe Milton instead of Tanner McKee against the Giants in Week 9.
- The Eagles have lost six straight games.
- McKee started three games, all losses, after Jalen Hurts was sidelined with blood clots.
- Milton came from the Cowboys' practice squad and has not played for the Eagles; Sunday is expected to be his first NFL start.
Where accounts differ
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Milton's career passing record
- Centre
- Newsweek: 15-for-24, 183 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions in four games with Dallas, plus one game as a Patriots rookie.
- Right
- IJR: 37 of 53, 424 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in five appearances with New England and Dallas.
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Certainty of the switch
- Centre
- Newsweek's headline and text present it as a report ("Report", "reportedly").
- Right
- IJR's headline states flatly that the Eagles "bench" McKee, though the text says the Eagles "are replacing" him.
Philadelphia Eagles organisation
Coach Nick Sirianni backed McKee on Monday; the team is now reported to be changing course to try to boost a struggling offense.
“said on Monday that the team was sticking with quarterback Tanner McKee” — Newsweek
“hoping the change sparks an offense struggling” — IJR
Joe Milton person
Reported as the new starter, in what is expected to be his first NFL start; no comment from him is quoted.
“Sunday will be his first NFL start.” — Newsweek
Tanner McKee person
Reported as benched after going 0-3 as starter; no comment from him is quoted.
“three losses in McKee’s three starts” — IJR
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Eagles Make Massive QB Switch Before Week 9 vs Giants: Report
Mixed Treats the switch as a sourced report and a surprising reversal by the coach, with detailed context.
Right2 articles
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IJRRC ·
Eagles bench Tanner McKee to start Joe Milton against Giants
Neutral Brief, factual report of the benching with Milton's career stats and a note on the offense's struggles.
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- 4 Nov 19:15 First IJRRC Eagles bench Tanner McKee to start Joe Milton against Giants
- 4 Nov 20:23 +1h 8m Fox NewsR Eagles bench Tanner McKee for Joe Milton two days after giving him vote of confidence: report
- 4 Nov 20:25 +1h 10m NewsweekN Eagles Make Massive QB Switch Before Week 9 vs Giants: Report
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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