- May 21, 2026
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The kid from the bottom of the depth chart is getting the keys to the operation. Tanner McKee, once buried at No. 3 to start the season, clawed his way back to second chair just in time for the big break.
Jalen Hurts is out for Week 6 against Carolina with a blood clot in his calf, and nobody in the organization is saying when the made man under center returns. That means McKee, a 2023 sixth-round pick, finally gets a real start. His only previous action came in meaningless Week 18 mop-up duty after the Eagles already punched their postseason ticket.
McKee ain't complaining about the circumstances. "Every opportunity that you get to play is a huge opportunity," he said Thursday. The backup life means staying ready without warning, and now he gets first-team reps all week.
The injury bug bit the whole roster, so McKee walks into a tough spot. No cushy setup, no soft landing. Just Sunday against the Panthers and a chance to show the whole league what he's got.
Mickey's Angle: McKee's a dart throw with shaky protection—temper expectations, but don't sleep on a hungry sixth-rounder making his first real impression.
Source: ProFootballTalk - original report rewritten by Mickey the Mouth.