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Tanner McKee set for the first meaningful start of his NFL career with Jalen Hurts out

Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Tanner McKee will make his first true regular-season start on Sunday after Jalen Hurts was ruled out with a blood clot. The opportunity comes after the team released veteran Andy Dalton earlier this week, leaving McKee as the only experienced option on the roster.

Though McKee has started two games in recent years—both in Week 18 with the Eagles already secured for the playoffs—he has never played a meaningful snap outside of garbage time. With rookie Cole Payton lacking NFL-ready experience, the Eagles now face a critical test of McKee’s readiness to step into a full-time role against the Carolina Panthers.

The situation creates an unusual twist, as the Eagles may reconsider Dalton’s release given the lack of alternatives. McKee’s performance will be closely watched, as he has yet to prove himself in a high-stakes regular-season game beyond brief appearances when the outcome was already decided.

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