Tanner McKee will take over under center for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, with Jalen Hurts sidelined by a superficial blood clot through at least the Week 6 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
The 26-year-old backup, nicknamed the Mormon Missile, is preparing for the third start of his NFL career and his first in a game carrying major stakes. Philadelphia enters at 2-3 and is attempting to halt a three-game skid, while Carolina arrives with a 2-2 record.
McKee gets a different kind of opportunity
McKee’s first two starts came in Week 18 games after the Eagles had already secured their playoff positioning. This assignment is considerably different: Philadelphia needs a win to keep its season from slipping further away.
- Hurts was ruled out for at least Sunday’s game because of the blood clot.
- McKee received the starter’s workload in practice, including first-team reps and added responsibility in meetings.
- He will make his third career start against the Panthers, with the Eagles seeking to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat.
McKee said a reserve quarterback has to prepare as though he could enter at any point, whether on the opening snap or at the end of a game. He called a full week of work with the first offense a valuable benefit for a backup.
As a former sixth-round selection now in his fourth NFL season, McKee said every chance to play matters. He said he has spent extra time training and taking reps for precisely the type of moment Philadelphia faces this week.
Quarterback depth shifts again
Philadelphia’s backup plan has changed quickly. McKee and Andy Dalton competed during the preseason, but neither separated himself decisively. Dalton opened the regular season as Hurts’ primary backup before an errant interception against the Chicago Bears preceded his release ahead of last week’s game.
With McKee moving into the starting role, the Eagles are adding Joe Milton III from the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad. Cole Payton, a 2026 fifth-round pick, remains on Philadelphia’s practice squad.
McKee played well enough in his previous starts, but those games came against opponents with little left to play for at the end of the regular season. Sunday will test him in a more urgent setting against a Panthers team still in the early-season race.
Future implications for Philadelphia
McKee’s performance could affect more than the Eagles’ immediate effort to stabilize the season. A strong outing would reinforce Philadelphia’s confidence in its quarterback depth behind Hurts. If he struggles, general manager Howie Roseman could consider bringing in another veteran option or turning to Milton or Payton as the next alternative.
McKee said he views the pressure of the assignment as an opportunity rather than a burden, emphasizing that competition is central to the position. The Eagles will find out Sunday whether their backup can turn a difficult injury situation into a needed turnaround.
