The tide has turned for the Philadelphia Eagles at quarterback, with Tanner McKee taking over for Jalen Hurts after the blood-clot news, but McKee might be more than okay at the position than some think.
Hurts was ruled out of the Eagles' Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers after a blood clot in his calf moved, requiring treatment. Typically, this period takes 45 days, three months, or more.
This likely means McKee will take over as the starting quarterback for now, and that could last a while. With the offense structured the way it is right now, though, McKee might be stepping in at the right time.
Tanner McKee might be stepping in at the right time for the Eagles
The biggest concern when a backup quarterback steps in as the starter is that they won't have chemistry with the starters. That's because in training camp and preseason, the backup is only with backups and third-stringers, not the starters.
Well, the Eagles are so banged up on offense that McKee actually has chemistry with much of the starting lineup. That will be crucial, especially at wide receiver and on the offensive line.
McKee has built chemistry with receivers like Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper in preseason and practice. Lemon is more of a starter, but McKee caught passes from him in the last preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cooper and McKee have two years of chemistry they can use to build on the offense's success.
Even if fans think about DeVonta Smith and his potential return in Week 6 from the hamstring injury, Smith has caught regular season passes from McKee before, including in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders, and it worked out well. After four years together, that will be huge for them.
Same for Dallas Goedert, who also caught regular season passes from McKee in 2024. That should be a smooth transition for both.
This offensive line could use a quarterback they know the cadence to when snapping the ball, and that's what they'll get. Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Jake Majors, and Markel Bell are a bit more familiar with McKee because they took more snaps with him in preseason than with Hurts, so that should help prevent more false starts.
Heck, even the running backs will be more comfortable with McKee. With Saquon Barkley not practicing and appearing to be out with a hamstring injury, McKee might have Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele at running back, which is perfect since they both took snaps from McKee during the preseason.
Sure, there will be bumps in the road with McKee, which will make this difficult for him since he hasn't played much football since joining the league in 2023 and is in a new offensive scheme. That's just the reality, but it doesn't mean the season will completely tank for the Eagles.
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Philly fans have seen McKee play well before, throwing five touchdowns and one interception in his young NFL career. Backup quarterbacks have a winning record this season when they start, so McKee could succeed if the Eagles start a different backup. This might actually work.
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