Dallas Cowboys fans are getting what they either wished for or feared.

Former Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton is now the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, which gives him a legitimate chance to face his old team on Thanksgiving. The Eagles benched Tanner McKee ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants, and Milton takes over the offense.

Barring another benching or an injury, Milton lines up as Philadelphia’s starter when the Eagles visit Dallas on Nov. 26. That’s an NFC East showdown on one of the biggest stages of the regular season, and it’s a revenge game for a quarterback the Cowboys let go.

Why the Eagles turned to Joe Milton

Some context first. The Eagles have been dealing with the Jalen Hurts blood clot situation, which landed their franchise quarterback on injured reserve. Philadelphia pivoted to McKee, and it didn’t go well.

With McKee running the show, the Eagles lost three games in a row. They scored 14 points against the Carolina Panthers, 21 points against the Cowboys’ shaky defense, and 10 points against the Washington Commanders.

That’s not going to cut it for a team with Philly’s expectations. So the Eagles are handing Milton the keys at 2-6. 

How Milton ended up in Philadelphia

Dallas traded for Milton back in 2025. After a preseason filled with struggles, the Cowboys added some competition in 2026. Milton found himself in a quarterback battle with Sam Howell earlier this season, one he not only lost but that the Cowboys were comfortable waiving him after the preseason.

Milton landed on the Dallas practice squad. Then, later in the year, the Eagles poached him amid the Hurts situation.

To be fair, a strong showing from Milton wouldn’t necessarily mean the Cowboys made the wrong call. They opted for Howell because they liked how he moved the offense and believed he was more game-day ready. That’s a reasonable evaluation.

But if Milton plays well for Philadelphia, especially against Dallas, the criticism will come anyway. That’s how it works in the NFL. 

A Cowboys defense that can’t be trusted

Here’s the thing about this matchup: the Cowboys defense can’t be trusted regardless of who lines up under center for the opponent. We’ve seen the likes of McKee, Gardner Minshew, and others light it up when facing Dallas. 

On top of this, Milton knows this unit very well. He spent a full season with the Cowboys in 2025 and then all of the 2026 offseason and preseason practicing against it. Expect him to have a good feel for what this defense does, and where it breaks down, it’s him.

This might be the top Cowboys storyline of Thanksgiving

The game is still a little over 20 days away, and a lot can change between now and then. Who knows if either of these teams will even be playing for anything by Nov. 26?

If the NFC East has slipped away by then, assuming the Giants continue to lead the division, this game at least gives us a storyline worth following between two rivals. Milton returns to AT&T Stadium, a venue he knows well, with a chance at some payback against the team that moved on from him.

That makes for good drama, at the very least.