It’s only the preseason and not even a competition for Jalen Hurts’s spot as the franchise’s face. Still, Tanner McKee took giant steps toward securing the Eagles’ backup quarterback job with a masterful performance against the Patriots on Thursday night.
McKee entered the game on two different occasions — starting the third quarter and returning midway through the fourth.
After two preseason games
Kenny Pickett
YPA: 4.5
EPA per dropback: -0.35Tanner McKee
YPA: 4.3
EPA per dropback: 0.01— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) August 16, 2024
The results were a stat line of 15-19 for 140 yards (7.4 average) and a 97.4 rating. McKee far outshone Kenny Pickett’s 11 of 13 passing for 67 yards (5.2 average), an 88.1 rating, and the former Steelers first-round pick got sacked four times on the night.
#Eagles QB Tanner McKee was 15-for-19 for 140 yards tonight and showed some impressive poise on a few throws tonight with traffic around him. Interesting QB2 situation in Philly. pic.twitter.com/ODm2fy2jpN
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 16, 2024
Philadelphia gave up a 2024 third-round pick (No. 98 overall) and a pair of 2025 seventh-round picks to acquire the former Pitt Panthers star, so simply releasing Pickett if this battle doesn’t go his way isn’t the most cost-effective answer. The Eagles could look to trade Pickett or keep all three quarterbacks on the roster, ensuring daily competition and two talented trade assets in a league where quarterbacks miss games weekly.
