What Tanner McKee Is Facing in His Third Eagles Start Sunday Night

Washington's defense blitzes 43.9% of the time, second-most in the NFL. Tanner McKee sees it Sunday night in Landover, Maryland, in his third start for the Philadelphia Eagles since Jalen Hurts went down.

McKee opened the season as the No. 3 quarterback behind Hurts and Andy Dalton. Philadelphia released Dalton on Oct. 9.

The first sign of trouble with Hurts came in London. An ultrasound there found a superficial clot in his calf before Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he played anyway. Another ultrasound the following Wednesday showed the clot had moved.

Doctors then found a deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, and Hurts went on injured reserve, likely done for the season. His agent, Nicole Lynn, and the team have both said they are optimistic about his long-term outlook.

The NFLPA has asked the league to investigate how the Eagles handled the injury. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni did not go into the team's decisions when reporters pressed him on Oct. 19.

"Again, I'm not a medical expert," Sirianni said.

McKee, 26, has been with the Eagles since 2023 and spent the last few years as an extra set of eyes for Hurts.

"I've talked to Jalen quite a bit," McKee said this week. "He was texting me before the (Cowboys) game. We were going back and forth with different ideas, different things. He's a great leader, great teammate and is just very open and willing to still helping this team, still helping me being the best player and being the best team that we can be, which I'm very appreciate of even though he's going through what he's going through."

Carolina got to him on blitzes in his first start, a 25-14 home loss on Oct. 18. Linebacker Bobby Okereke came free for an 11-yard sack, and McKee finished 26 of 45 for 215 yards and a touchdown.

On Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys, he went 23 of 35 for 211 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a 38-21 loss. He led a 17-play touchdown drive in the third quarter that took 9 minutes, 16 seconds, and found rookie Makai Lemon from 4 yards out for Lemon's first career touchdown.

"Obviously, I wish I had the interception back," McKee explained afterward. "You've just got to move on. Move on in my read, in my progression. And then the two missed throws before halftime. Wish I had those back."

One of his two starts before this season came against Washington, on Jan. 4 in Week 18, when he threw for 241 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The other, a year earlier, was a 20-13 win over the New York Giants with two touchdown passes. Philadelphia drafted him out of Stanford in the sixth round in 2023.

"There's only one quarterback on the field at a time," McKee said. "And so when you step into the huddle, you're expected to be the leader, know where everyone's supposed to be, get everybody on the right page. And whether that's in a workout or staying extra, being the last guy to leave the building, I feel like there is that expectation for whoever that guy is."

Three receivers are out. DeVonta Smith has a hamstring injury, Dontayvion Wicks an ankle injury, and Britain Covey, who also returns punts, a knee injury, and it is the second straight game without Smith and Wicks.

Lemon caught 7 of his 8 targets for 67 yards against Dallas. No Eagles rookie had put up at least five catches, 50 receiving yards, and a touchdown in a game since Smith did it three times in 2021.

"Makai's a great player," McKee said. "He's a gritty player. He's a tough player. He can make people miss with the ball in his hands. He can run people over and he has great hands. That touchdown pass that he caught was a little bit behind him."

Saquon Barkley practiced Friday for the first time all week and has no designation. With Dameon Pierce on injured reserve, Jaydon Blue moved up to the active roster behind him. Up front, the line that started against Dallas is intact.

Washington's Jayden Daniels went 29-of-40 for 300 yards and two touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers last week. Philadelphia beat the Commanders in the season opener at Lincoln Financial Field. Washington put leading receiver Terry McLaurin on injured reserve this week, and Commanders coach Dan Quinn expects to be without defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (knee).

The Eagles are 2-5 and have lost five straight for the first time since 2016. Kickoff is 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.