Get to know Eagles' Week 6 starting QB Tanner McKee

With a blood clot issue causing Jalen Hurts to sit out, an unknown quarterback commodity will start in his place when the Philadelphia Eagles face off against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. 

Hurts' absence, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of ESPN and NFL Network, will directly hamper the Eagles' offensive game plan with Tanner McKee under center instead.  

Get to know Tanner McKee 

McKee is experienced by age - he's 26-years-old - but not based on in-game action. He's only played sporadically in inconsequential games so far in his NFL career. 

He made his NFL debut in Week 17 of the 2024 season in relief of Kenny Pickett, completing three passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns in a 41–7 win over the rival Dallas Cowboys. And then with the No. 2 seed already secured, McKee started the regular season finale the following week. He threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers in that game, setting up the Eagles' on their eventual run to winning Super Bowl LIX. 

McKee has appeared in multiple games at the end of recent seasons 

Then, McKee experienced similar opportunities last season. He completed three passes for 33 yards in the fourth quarter of Philadelphia's Week 15 game against the Las Vegas Raiders and then started the Week 18 contest contest against the Washington Commanders, going 21-of-40 for 241 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a loss. 

Drafted in the sixth round out of Stanford in 2023, McKee has 597 yards with five touchdowns and one pick in his limited playing time.

McKee started two full seasons at Stanford, totaling 5,336 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while only leading the Cardinal to a 6-15 record. 

So while McKee has proved to be adequate in games at the end of seasons, starting a pivotal early-season game in October will be the biggest test of his abilities yet, although the Eagles will likely reduce the playbook from what they normally utilize for Hurts.