The Philadelphia Eagles continue to keep their backup quarterback decision close to the vest as Sunday’s season opener against the Washington Commanders approaches. Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee both said Wednesday that the team has not informed them who will serve as Jalen Hurts’ primary backup, according to ESPN’s Tim McManus.
Dalton is listed behind Hurts on Philadelphia’s unofficial depth chart, followed by McKee and rookie Cole Payton. However, placement on an unofficial depth chart does not guarantee that Dalton will be the No. 2 quarterback on game day. Head coach Nick Sirianni has declined to reveal the decision publicly. Sirianni indicated Wednesday that the Eagles could know who won the competition internally without announcing it before
it is required.
Both Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee made it clear they have not been told who the No. 2 QB is yet. pic.twitter.com/HkkFqw6JjR
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) September 9, 2026
Philadelphia acquired Dalton from the Carolina Panthers during the offseason to add an experienced option behind Hurts. The 38-year-old has made 169 regular-season starts and earned three Pro Bowl selections during his NFL career.
McKee offers familiarity with Philadelphia’s offense and has shown promise when given regular-season opportunities. The 2023 sixth-round pick entered the offseason as Hurts’ established backup before Dalton’s arrival created legitimate competition. The decision could involve more than determining which quarterback performed better during the summer. Philadelphia must weigh Dalton’s extensive starting experience against McKee’s roster knowledge, familiarity with Hurts, and previous success in the system.
Keeping the choice private also prevents Washington from knowing which quarterback it would face if Hurts were forced to leave Sunday’s game. For now, Dalton and McKee are preparing as though either could be one snap away from leading the offense. The answer may not become public until the Eagles announce their game-day inactive list.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee are still waiting on Eagles’ QB2 decision
