Andy Dalton To Serve As Eagles’ No. 2 QB

Ahead of Week 1, it has now be learned that Philadelphia will opt for the veteran at least to begin the campaign. Dalton is set to dress as the Eagles’ QB2 behind Jalen Hurts. McKee, meanwhile, is listed among the team’s inactives for Sunday. As a result, he represents Philadelphia’s emergency No. 3 passer.

By rule, emergency quarterbacks do not count toward a team’s gameday lineup total but are eligible to play if the team’s other two passers are injured. They are required to return to the sidelines if the starter or backup manages to return. More importantly, though, today’s news represents confirmation that Dalton has won the backup QB2 competition for 2026.

The 16th-year veteran was acquired via trade this offseason, one in which Sam Howell departed on the open market. Dalton has made 169 starts in his career, including seven across his Panthers tenure (2023-25). He will offer much more in the way of experience than McKee, who has been in the fold with Philadelphia since being drafted in the sixth round in 2023.

McKee is a pending free agent as a result. A trade was never a distinct possibility in his case, leading some to predict the backup gig would go to the 26-year-old. Instead, the Eagles will rely on Dalton in the event Hurts misses any time. If this setup continues through the early stages of the season, further talk of a potential McKee trade will no doubt increase leading up to this year’s deadline.