The Eagles kept their backup quarterback decision close to the vest throughout the summer, but Sunday’s inactive list finally provided an answer. Andy Dalton will serve as Philadelphia’s No. 2 quarterback behind Jalen Hurts for the season opener against the Washington Commanders. Tanner McKee was designated as the emergency third quarterback, while rookie Cole Payton is inactive.
Dalton and McKee competed for the job throughout training camp and the preseason. Philadelphia listed both players as co-backups on its unofficial depth chart, and head coach Nick Sirianni declined to reveal the team’s decision during the week leading into the opener. The Eagles ultimately sided with Dalton’s experience for Week 1. The veteran has spent 15 seasons in the NFL
and gives Philadelphia a proven option if Hurts is forced to leave the game.
Andy Dalton will be the Eagles' No. 2 against the Commanders after a competition with Tanner McKee this summer.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) September 13, 2026
The inactives:
McKee
Cole Payton
Elijah Moore
Jonathan Greenard
Micah Morris
McKee can dress but may only enter if Hurts and Dalton are unavailable because of injury or disqualification. He could be removed from the game if either quarterback is cleared to return.
Philadelphia kept four quarterbacks on its initial 53-man roster, but Hurts and Dalton are the two standard active options against Washington.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Andy Dalton wins Eagles’ backup quarterback job over Tanner McKee
