As the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to face the New York Giants on Sunday, the team’s quarterback situation remains fluid and uncertain.
Ian Rapoport of NFL media has reported that Tanner McKee, dealing with a cracked rib suffered on the opening drive of last week’s game, is expected to serve as the backup to Joe Milton despite being listed as questionable.
The injury has not kept McKee off the active roster for the Week 9 matchup, but it underscores the precarious depth chart that has defined Philadelphia’s season.
The Eagles sit at 2-6 and have dropped six consecutive games.
After Jalen Hurts was placed on injured reserve with blood clots and ruled out for the remainder of the year, McKee took over as the starter. He went 0-3 in those contests.
The offense managed only 45 points across the three losses, including a 27-10 defeat to the Washington Commanders in which Philadelphia was shut out after the first quarter.
McKee completed 72 of 114 passes for 638 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions during that stretch. While those numbers were not disastrous on paper, the results and the overall lack of scoring prompted a change.
Head coach Nick Sirianni had publicly backed McKee as recently as Monday, telling reporters that “Tanner’s our guy” and that no change would be made. Two days later, the team named Milton the starter.
Sirianni later explained that he felt McKee had played solidly but believed a different option offered the best chance to reverse the skid.
Milton, signed off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad on October 16, has never started an NFL game.
The former sixth-round pick out of Tennessee is known for a strong arm and greater mobility than McKee, qualities teammates have described favorably. He spent last season as Dak Prescott’s backup and appeared in limited action with the Patriots the year before.
McKee, a sixth-round selection by the Eagles in 2023, has spent most of his career as a reserve. He has been willing to help Milton get up to speed on the offense even after losing the starting job.
With rookie Cole Payton also on the roster, McKee’s presence as the primary backup provides some continuity should Milton struggle or leave the game.
The Giants enter the contest at 4-2-1 and lead the NFC East, so Philadelphia is looking for any spark that might slow a difficult season.
Whether Milton can deliver that spark, or whether McKee’s injury limits the options if he is needed, will be answered on the field at Lincoln Financial Field.
