The Philadelphia Eagles brought in 38-year-old Andy Dalton to be a steady hand behind Jalen Hurts—a veteran who could step in and keep the offense afloat if disaster struck. But when that exact scenario unfolded on Monday night against the Chicago Bears, Dalton crumbled, and now his job as QB2 hangs in the balance.
Head coach Nick Sirianni didn't exactly give Dalton a vote of confidence when he met with reporters on Wednesday. Asked who would back up Hurts in this weekend's crucial home tilt against the Los Angeles Rams, Sirianni stayed mum, even singling out Dalton's costly giveaway that wiped points off the board.
"You know, I have a lot of faith in both of those guys," Sirianni said, via pennlive.com. "Obviously, what happened in the game, we don't want turnovers by anybody… We can't turn the ball over. We did in that situation, and we lost points because of it. But I still have faith in Tanner, in Andy, in how [rookie] Cole [Payton] is developing. I still have faith in that room."
That lukewarm endorsement has fueled speculation that Tanner McKee could leapfrog Dalton on the depth chart. The 2023 sixth-round pick has shown flashes in limited action, posting a 1-1 record as a starter with five touchdowns and just one interception across six career games. He's no Hurts, but he's proven he can move the offense in a pinch.
This backup decision matters more than usual because Hurts himself has been far from sharp. Through three games, the franchise quarterback is completing just 64.4 percent of his passes for 620 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. He's on pace for the highest interception rate of his career, and his accuracy has dipped to a five-year low. If Hurts continues to struggle or—worse—goes down with an injury, the Eagles can't afford to have a shaky No. 2.
Dalton's Monday meltdown wasn't the only drama in Philadelphia. The game also featured Caleb Williams' anthem sideline stroll and Sirianni's heated sideline exchange with a Bears player, adding to the chaotic atmosphere. But Dalton's turnover was the one that directly cost his team points—and possibly his roster spot.
If the Eagles do demote Dalton, McKee would step into the backup role, a promotion that seemed unthinkable just weeks ago. The team has been high on McKee's development, and with Hurts' uneven play, having a reliable contingency plan is more critical than ever.
For now, Sirianni isn't tipping his hand. But the writing may be on the wall for Dalton, whose rough primetime outing could mark the beginning of the end of his brief tenure as Philadelphia's safety net.
