Could Kenny Pickett lose primary backup job with Eagles?

Some wondered shortly after the Philadelphia Eagles acquired quarterback Kenny Pickett from the Pittsburgh Steelers in March if Pickett could serve as somewhat of an insurance policy in the event that Philadelphia wanted to explore moving on from starter Jalen Hurts in 2025.

On Tuesday, Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore found himself fielding questions regarding 2023 sixth-round draft pick Tanner McKee receiving additional training camp reps with the second team over Pickett.

"Tanner is doing an awesome job," Moore explained, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "Kenny is doing an awesome job. Really two independent things. It’s not necessarily that they’re associated with each other. I think both of those guys are having really good camps. Sometimes when you are a younger guy, sometimes we like to put you in some different situations where you are with different guys on the field, whether it be with a second group or a first group, all those different things."

The Steelers made Pickett a first-round draft pick back in the spring of 2022, but he failed to cement himself as Pittsburgh's long-term answer at the position before the club signed veteran Russell Wilson to a team-friendly contract this past March. Pickett reportedly "preferred to move on" from Pittsburgh rather than compete with Wilson for the Steelers' starting job, and the 26-year-old was widely criticized for how he handled that situation.

Meanwhile, rumors regarding alleged issues involving Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni have hovered over the Eagles this summer and previously had some questioning if Pickett could be viewed as a future replacement for the 2022 regular-season Most Valuable Player Award finalist. It now appears Pickett isn't even guaranteed the QB2 spot on Philadelphia's depth chart heading into the team's preseason opener at the Baltimore Ravens this coming Friday.

"We try and mix and match these things to give yourself a different perspective for these guys," Moore continued. "Kenny has handled it awesome. Tanner has handled it awesome. It’s been really good for these guys."

Pickett should receive opportunities to silence chatter about his short-term future with the Eagles across their three preseason contests. If, however, he's outplayed by McKee over those games, Pickett could find himself looking for a new football home for the second time this year.