Jalen Hurts Ruled Out, Tanner McKee Gets Eagles Shot

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Jalen Hurts Ruled Out as Eagles Turn to Tanner McKee

The Eagles will face Carolina without Jalen Hurts, who has been ruled out because of a blood clot. The issue was reportedly discovered before the game in London, when Hurts was cleared to play, but he has not been cleared this time. The betting line moved following the news.

Philadelphia already faced a difficult schedule after traveling to London to play Jacksonville, flying home and preparing to face a Carolina team coming off a bye week. Now the Eagles enter the matchup with a backup quarterback and backup offensive linemen.

The injuries to Hurts, DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley have raised questions about Philadelphia’s outlook for the rest of the season. While the Eagles could still beat Carolina and remain competitive in their division, reaching 10, 11 or 12 wins appears difficult given their depleted roster.

Tanner McKee offers a glimmer of hope. He has consistently performed well in practices and preseason games, and other teams have reportedly tried to acquire him. Although he has played before, he has not received an extended opportunity to start consecutive games.

McKee could receive two or three starts before Hurts returns, or he could potentially remain the quarterback for the rest of this season and into next season. He has produced strong performances when given late-season opportunities, including games with four touchdowns and 400 passing yards.

The biggest concern is how much time McKee has had to prepare. If the Eagles knew several days ago that he would start, he may be ready for the opportunity. If he only learned about the decision recently, it creates a challenging situation. Even so, he was described as one of the league’s top backup quarterbacks, making his upcoming opportunity worth watching.