The Philadelphia Eagles officially roll on into the 2026 season for the first time without their starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts, and enter the Tanner McKee era.
Hurts was first ruled out for the Eagles' Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers with a blood clot that began after a calf injury he sustained in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. He is now on IR, and the team has signed Joe Milton to replace him on the roster.
McKee takes over as the starter in place of Hurts for at least the next four weeks, which leaves many to wonder how things are going to be with McKee running the show in Week 6. Here's a look at his journey to get there and what to expect against the Panthers.
What to expect from Tanner McKee's first 2026 start with Eagles
McKee is set to make his third career start, but the first that isn't in Week 18. He has completed 61.4% of his passes for 597 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception in six games. McKee has rushed for seven yards on 13 carries.
This Eagles offense will look a bit different with McKee in the game than with Hurts running the offense. The first major change is that the running game will look different, but not as different as fans expected.
In the past, McKee has run offenses that feature RPOs, so don't be surprised if the Eagles throw in a few for him to run. That said, Philly will keep him in the pocket often and won't get him moving.
The offense could look a lot like it did in the Eagles' Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hurts got the ball out in 2.3 seconds, the fastest of his career. McKee will probably have a similar situation where offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will call more quick passes to get the ball out of McKee's hands.
The offensive line plays a role, with at least Willie Lampkin making his second career start and Markel Bell his third. The center position is still unclear; it will be Jake Majors or Drew Kendall, who is questionable with a knee injury. Mannion wants to take as much pressure off McKee and the offensive line as possible, so it'll be a lot of quick passes with few progressions.
DeVonta Smith is back for the Eagles, great news after he missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. McKee will likely want the ball in his hands early and often, given how good he is. Don't be surprised if the Eagles feature Darius Cooper more in the offense, given his chemistry with McKee and his four receiving touchdowns, leading the team.
Read more: 5 bold Eagles predictions that'll help them upset the Panthers in Week 6
Philly won't complicate this too much for McKee, as they want to keep the game plan as simple as possible for him. As the weeks go on, they will add more to his plate, but ultimately, with their top three running backs out, McKee will have to carry this offense more than they would like. He has shown, though, that he is up to the task and could surprise many people.
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