Eagles showcase McKee as backup QB in preseason

Analysis of Tanner McKee's preseason performance and what it means for the Eagles' quarterback depth.

Tanner McKee Emerges as Eagles Backup Quarterback in Preseason

Philadelphia opened the preseason with a 34-27 win over Cincinnati. Tanner McKee completed 20 of 25 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns and added a one-yard tush push. He led the offense into the third quarter, facing the Bengals’ starting defense while working mostly with reserves. He showed decisiveness and accuracy, including a 27-yard deep ball to Johnny Wilson and a well-placed touchdown pass to Darius Cooper just before halftime, which McKee described as moving the ball well. "It felt good, felt like we were moving the ball, which is always fun," he said.

Analysts note the Eagles place high importance on the No 2 quarterback role, and McKee’s summer rise aligns with that priority. The team could have moved him earlier, yet kept him to back up Jalen Hurts, underscoring the value they see in a ready internal option. While some fans debated whether the Eagles were showcasing him, team insiders have signaled a longer view: McKee could start for other teams, which increases his value in any future trade and gives Philadelphia leverage in a crowded quarterback market.

McKee’s showing is more than a single game. It signals a potential shift in how the Eagles view their quarterback room, with a young passer who can run the offense confidently. If this momentum continues, Philadelphia gains flexibility in how it manages Hurts’ reps and its cap, while preserving a meaningful asset behind them. The performance also matters for the rest of the offense, which looked smoother with McKee at the helm and may influence how the team staffs the roster at wide receiver and along the trenches. The story of this summer is not just the numbers, but the confidence building around a player who could be a long-term piece in a championship pursuit.

Yet there are cautions. Preseason reps can be misleading, especially when the defense is operating with its depth chart. McKee will face tougher tests, and the coaching staff will want consistency under live game pressures. The bigger question is how the Eagles balance conviction in a promising internal option with prudent roster management, including how much value to assign to backup depth and whether additional veterans or draft picks are necessary for the season ahead.

Highlights

The season will reveal how much the preseason confidence translates into real-game steadiness.