At a Glance
- McKee will start for the Eagles in Week 18, a chance to improve playoff seeding if the Bears lose.
- Eagles rest key starters, including Jalen Hurts, for the game.
- McKee’s limited action this season has built his confidence for the opportunity.
- Why it matters: It could shift the Eagles from a 3-seed to a 2-seed in the NFC.
The Eagles have decided to rest several key starters for Week 18, leaving the backup quarterback position open for Tanner McKee. With Jalen Hurts out, McKee will see his second start in the NFL and a chance to help the team move up in playoff seeding.
Eagles Rest Key Players
The coaching staff announced that Hurts and other starters would not play in the game against the Washington Commanders. The decision aims to keep the team healthy for the postseason and gives McKee a valuable in-game opportunity.
McKee’s Opportunity
McKee expressed excitement about the chance to start.
McKee stated:
> “It actually has been a while since I’ve gotten hit,” McKee said with a laugh on Thursday. “I’m excited to go out and playing the game. It’s fun getting in a rhythm and playing football again, it just feels familiar and it’s great. I’m excited.”
McKee added:
> “Obviously super excited for the opportunity,” McKee said. “But I feel like each week leading up I’ve been preparing like I’m going to play in case I do. So I feel like preparation has been pretty similar. It’s nice to get more reps in practice, obviously. But really excited for the opportunity.”
He also noted the stakes of the game.
McKee said:
> “I’m definitely excited for that,” McKee said. “It’s obviously fun when something’s on the line. Anytime you get out, it’s an opportunity to go out and perform and play. That’s what we do. If there was nothing on the line or if it was the Super Bowl, you’re going to approach the game the same way. It’s an opportunity to play the game.”
Team Dynamics
Head coach Nick Sirianni praised McKee’s development and his relationship with Jalen Hurts.
Sirianni said:
> “I think that when you see Tanner, he’s really good about knowing where to go with the football, seeing the defense, and being able to deliver things accurately,” head coach Nick Sirianni said.
He continued:
> “It’s a great room where those guys feed off each other and learn from each other. He’s got Jalen, being able to learn from Jalen, which is a huge deal. Anytime you’re around a really good quarterback, your game goes up, too. He’s able to sit in that meeting room with Jalen for hours upon hours a day just learning from him. That’s a big deal.”
Quarterback Jalen Hurts also expressed support.
Hurts said:
> “Absolutely,” Hurts said. “You get excited for that because you build those relationships within the room.”
McKee reflected on his growth.
McKee said:
> “Obviously, with more reps you get more confidence,” he said. “You have that good chemistry with the guys around you. Obviously, feel like I have a good feel, can play fast. I feel like as a quarterback, it’s really big to be able to play and just react to the game instead of trying to think of ‘What’s my job, what’s my footwork, what’s everybody else doing?’ You can just play and react. So I feel like I’ve gotten to that point and I feel comfortable doing that.”
| Game | Completion % | TDs | INTs | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 15 vs Raiders | 100% | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Week 18 vs Giants | 65.9% | 2 | 0 | – |
Key Takeaways
- McKee will start for the Eagles in Week 18, a pivotal game for playoff seeding.
- The Eagles are resting key starters, giving McKee his second NFL start.
- McKee’s confidence has grown through practice and limited game action.
The game against the Commanders will be the most meaningful for McKee, and he’s ready to seize the opportunity.
