Jalen Hurts is officially out for Sunday’s clash against the Panthers, sidelined by a blood clot, and that means Tanner McKee is getting his first truly meaningful NFL start. This isn’t just another Week 18 game where the Eagles already clinched their playoff spot and were resting starters. This is the real deal, and it’s happening right now.
McKee’s Moment: From Garbage Time to Gridiron
If you’re wondering where McKee has been, he’s taken snaps before, sure. He started two games the last two years, both in Week 18. Both times, the Eagles had already locked up their playoff seeds and decided to rest Hurts and their other top players. The dude has literally never played a snap outside of garbage time when the game actually mattered in a regular season. Now, with Hurts out with a serious issue like a blood clot, McKee is getting thrown into the fire. We’re talking high stakes, no safety net.
The Eagles’ QB Conundrum: Where’s the Backup?
Here’s where it gets even crazier for the Eagles. They had a very experienced backup quarterback in Andy Dalton, but he got cut last week *before* Hurts’ blood clot diagnosis. Talk about timing, right? Now, it wouldn’t be surprising if they tried to get Dalton back in the building because their only other QB on the roster is Cole Payton. Payton is a fifth-round rookie out of North Dakota State. Yeah, he’s got talent, starting only one season in college, but he’s just not viewed as a guy ready to lead an NFL team right away. They’re seriously in a bind with no veteran safety net.
So, on Sunday against the Panthers, all eyes are on Tanner McKee. He’s stepping onto that field for the first time with real pressure, real consequences. Is he ready to shoulder the load and keep the Eagles rolling without a clear backup plan? This isn’t just a tryout; this is the deep end, and we’re all about to find out if he can swim.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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