PHILADELPHIA – Two days after the Eagles saw starting quarterback Jalen Hurts leave the game with a concussion, a backup quarterback took snaps in a meaningful game for the first time this season. Kenny Pickett replaced Hurts and led the offense for the rest of Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders but sustained a rib injury, forcing emergency quarterback Tanner McKee to begin warming up. Pickett finished the game, but questions remain about whether Hurts will clear concussion protocol or if Pickett—or even McKee—will start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
Hurts will have to be cleared by an independent neurologist before he can participate in any practice or game and Pickett was seen walking briefly in the locker room before Tuesday’s walkthrough, which was closed to the media. Pickett did not appear to be laboring to breathe, a common symptom of rib injuries, which could indicate he will be available Sunday.
If Hurts or Pickett’s availability forces them to be sidelined, the Eagles could turn to McKee be ready at least as the primary backup. McKee, a sixth-round draft pick in 2023, has yet to play in a regular-season game, but said he is ready to fill whatever role is assigned to him—whether as the starter, backup, or emergency quarterback—because of the way he prepares each week.
“I feel like I’ve always been preparing to be the starter and preparing to play, so my preparation is going to stay the same,” McKee told reporters Tuesday. “I’m obviously excited for any opportunity that I do get, but we’re going to take it day by day for those guys.”
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McKee said he stays sharp by working as the scout team quarterback and practicing with receivers after team drills to refine his timing and familiarity with the passing game.
“I grab a couple of guys after practice and say things like, ‘Hey, I didn’t get this route in practice.’ Jalen obviously gets the majority of the reps, so I want to throw a couple of routes with a guy in case I do get called on to run a concept. I think it’s just about getting the timing with the guys and feeling confident whenever a play is called.”
The game plan could look different if Hurts does not play, but that did not draw any concern from left tackle Jordan Malaita, who said he believes all three quarterbacks on the Eagles roster are capable of running the offense efficiently.
“Jalen’s obviously the more dynamic QB out of the three of them,” Mailata said. “In terms of how that’s going to change us and how it’s not going to change anything—it may, from a cadence standpoint. They all have a different rhythm, so for us, it’s all about what we can control. I think it does change some of the plays we’ll call from a read standpoint, but that’s more of an OC (offensive coordinator Kellen Moore) question.”
Right tackle Lane Johnson echoed Mailata’s confidence in Hurts and the backups, praising Pickett for his performance under challenging circumstances. Johnson added that the offense as a whole must focus on finishing drives and correcting details the Commanders exploited Sunday.
“We got some reps with Kenny, and I thought he did well under the circumstances,” Johnson said. “When it comes to the other stuff, we have to clean some things up communication-wise, but I thought we competed well and put up some points. At the end, we had some chances to seal the game. We have to make those plays.”
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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.