Eagles’ six best QB options without Jalen Hurts, from Cole Payton to Justin Fields

The Philadelphia Eagles are in a tough, unfamiliar position with their offense. Already hurt by injuries and offensive line woes during their 2-4 start, the biggest blow of them all has been learning quarterback Jalen Hurts will likely need to miss the remainder of the 2026 NFL season while being treated for blood clots.

The Eagles lost their fourth consecutive game, 25-14, at home to the Panthers on Sunday. Although their defense did its best to keep them in the game into the fourth quarter, Hurts’ top backup Tanner McKee struggled while not having support from an injured Saquon Barkley in the running game.

McKee did make good use of returning top wide receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert. But there wasn’t much else to worry Carolina’s defense.

Without Hurts, the key thing missing was any threat of a running QB as McKee is more of a classic big, strong-armed pocket passer. Other than getting Barkley back and resettling the line in the wake of right tackle Lane Johnson’s retirement and center Cam Jurgens’ trade, the Eagles need to have a dual threat at QB to have a better chance at winning games.

From who’s right behind McKee on the depth chart to some wild-card backups with wheels, here’s who can help them better at quarterback.

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Part of the reason the Eagles drafted Payton in the fifth round was the fact he could run so well as a truer profile backup to Hurts than either McKee or the since-released Andy Dalton. McKee isn’t under contract for next season, so Payton has a huge opportunity to emerge as Hurts’ long-term No. 2.

McKee has limitations in his movement. Payton does not. He was a superstar runner at North Dakota State, the alma mater of Hurts predecessor, Carson Wentz. He rushed for 777 yards and 13 TDs in his final college season of 2025. He can help the Eagles manufacture more offense and revive the running game.

If the Eagles end up not making the playoffs, they at least would get a good look at the rookie’s dual-threat skill set. If they do, they can feel good about Payton being a supersub for Hurts for years to come.

Between Milton and running back Jayden Blue, the Eagles are interested in going after recently released Cowboys offensive skill talent. Milton was signed from Dallas’ practice squad last week instead of bringing back Dalton.

The added twist is the fact that Milton, a 2024 sixth-round pick by the Patriots, joins Philadelphia ahead of hosting Dallas on Monday night to close Week 7. There is an outside chance Milton can get some work vs. his former team after his second week in practice with his current team. The bottom line is, between McKee, Payton and Milton, the Eagles are most likely to stay internal to find Hurts’ fill-in.

Should the Eagles go outside the organization and look to make a reasonable trade, getting Fields from the Chiefs makes the most sense. Kansas City is high on its third-string rookie Garrett Nussmeier as a true multiple-season backup for Patrick Mahomes. Fields is under contract through only 2026 and the Chiefs are taking only a $3 million cap hit on their roster.

The biggest appeal of turning to Fields is helping the Eagles change to more designed quarterback runs to compensate for Hurts. Fields is also capable enough as a passer to get it done downfield, throwing to Smith and Goedert. This may be Fields’ best shot to prove himself as a winning starter in the league.

The Eagles can evaluate whether to keep Fields for ’27 and beyond later and if it doesn’t work out, they can simply let him go to free agency with not much lost.

Brissett won’t be used as a straight-up running QB should he be acquired from Arizona, but he can provide some mobility and an arm capable of feeding wide receivers and tight ends well. He was the highest-volume passer in the NFL last season and is averaging 39 attempts this season, behind only Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott and Tyler Shough.

Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur already made one big offensive move, calling for the team to trade wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Texans. He has hinted that he’s been disappointed in Brissett’s play in the new offense and is also eager to take a look at rookie Carson Beck starting. With former Eagle Gardner Minshew on the team to back up Beck, the Cards should jump at the chance to deal Brissett to Philadelphia.

Brissett would give the Eagles more confidence to run their offense and maybe be good enough to win the division.

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Sam Darnold is stinking for the Seahawks but Drew Lock is there should they make a change. The Eagles should at least inquire about another dual-threat QB named Jalen who played well at Alabama. Much like the Fields situation, they can also determine if Milroe would be worth keeping as a developmental reserve beyond this season. Getting Milroe would be super cheap with trade compensation and salary.

The Eagles’ old friend, former offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, may soon be on the outs in Indianapolis as that team’s head coach. Steichen couldn’t help Richardson a mobile, strong-armed passer like he did with Hurts while in Philadelphia. But in terms of his physical profile, Richardson at 6-4, 244 pounds, with great running ability, could do much better with his skill and systemic support with the Eagles.

The Colts are bound to make some trades after parting ways with GM Chris Ballard. Richardson was overdue to be traded and he doesn’t make sense to replace beleaguered Daniel Jones anymore. The Eagles would not need to give up much at all to take this ultimate flyer.

Vinnie Iyer has been with The Sporting News since 1999, not long after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has produced NFL content for more than 20 years, turning his attention to full-time writing in 2007. Vinnie covers every aspect of the NFL for TSN including draft prospects analysis, gambling and fantasy football. He also represents TSN as host of the “Locked On Fantasy Football” podcast on the Locked On network.