The Eagles’ backup quarterback race still looks wide open, and Saturday’s practice didn’t do much to clear the picture.
Behind Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton kept splitting the work at the Jefferson Health Training Complex, with both quarterbacks getting meaningful chances as the offense continues to sort out Sean Mannion’s new system. Dalton was the sharper of the two overall, but the day was uneven for the offense as a whole.
During the “routes on air” portion, the four quarterbacks were paired off in tandems. Hurts and McKee worked toward the north side of the complex, while Dalton threw south with rookie Cole Payton. Once team drills started, Dalton went first, but McKee got the nod in 7-on-7 work and then took the second-team snaps during a 12-rep competitive period that Vic Fangio’s defense won comfortably.
That split is part of the plan, Mannion said, as the Eagles try to keep both candidates in rhythm while the offense learns the new scheme.
Asked by Eagles On SI about spreading the reps around the backup group, Mannion said: “If nothing else, I’ve been in their shoes, and I know it’s important to try to get these guys into a rhythm at practice and get them comfortable. They’ve both done a great job.
“It’s a very exciting group, top to bottom. All four of those guys are fun to work with. Ultimately, we want to get as many chances to get all of them on the field and get as many reps as possible each day.”
That approach has defined the first three practices, with all four quarterbacks getting work but neither McKee nor Dalton really settling into a groove. McKee, the 2023 sixth-round pick from Stanford, came into the offseason as the expected favorite after serving as the primary backup in 2025.
Dalton arrived in March in a trade from the Carolina Panthers, with the Eagles sending a 2027 seventh-round pick the other way. At the time, he was seen by many as veteran insurance, and possibly a bridge if trade interest in McKee developed.
Instead, the two veterans-to-be have rotated with the second team since the spring.
Nick Sirianni has repeatedly avoided naming a No. 2 quarterback, leaning on the same message each time: “everything is a competition.” For now, the rotation appears set to continue.
Dalton brings the obvious edge in experience, with 169 career NFL starts. McKee offers more physical upside and a deeper comfort level inside the organization, even if Mannion’s system is still new to him.
Both quarterbacks are also in the final year of their deals, which only adds more weight to how this battle plays out before Week 1.
For now, though, the bigger story is the offense itself. Mannion’s Shanahan/McVay-inspired scheme is still coming together, with more under-center snaps, play-action, and timing concepts than the Eagles are used to. The unit has yet to produce a passing touchdown in team periods, and the early camp work has come with plenty of growing pains.
Mannion said the focus remains on the basics.
“I think the biggest thing we want is great effort every day and then compete,” the OC said. “That was a big thing coming into this camp for us is every day high-level competition. You're competing against yourself, competing for a role on the roster, and then getting to compete against the defense every day is going to make us better and better.”
In Other News...
Eagles Make Their First Camp Cut As Line Concerns Start Growing
The first roster move of Eagles training camp arrived quickly, with the team parting ways with TaQuon Graham just days into the 2026 session. Graham, who came over after a stint with the Falcons and finished last season on Philadelphias practice squad, had a short runway to make an impression as the club started sorting through its depth in the trenches.
The timing adds to the sense that the Eagles are already keeping one eye on the health of their line rotation. A pair of rookies were carted off practice on the third day of camp, and the uncertainty only feeds the ongoing chatter around Brandon Graham and whether a return could still materialize, even though nothing has been signed. For a team that leans on its fronts as much as Philadelphia does, every early camp absence feels bigger than it should. [Read more 🡒]
Kylie Kelce Pushes Back After Personal Family Rumors Crossed A Line
Kylie Kelce used her July 30 podcast episode to shut down the pregnancy chatter that had been building around her family, pushing back on the habit of reading too much into a womans appearance. She spoke candidly about life at home with the couples four daughters and also opened a window into how seriously she and Jason have thought about baby names, giving listeners a more personal look at the family beyond the headlines.
The conversation came with a sharper edge because it was really about boundaries as much as baby talk. Kylie made clear that family matters should stay private, even as she has continued to share pieces of her life publicly, and the episode added another layer to a month already packed with Kelce family buzz after she congratulated Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift on their July 3 wedding, calling the ceremony intimate and full of love. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Are Betting Big On A Rookie Unlike Anyone Else
Uar Bernard arrived in Philadelphia with one of the most unusual resumes in the Eagles building, a seventh-round pick and International Pathway Program participant who is only now starting his football career. With no prior playing experience to lean on, Bernard is learning the game from the ground up, and the Eagles have made it clear they are treating his development as a long-term project rather than a quick fix.
Vic Fangio and Clint Hurtt have already mapped out a patient approach for the rookie defensive lineman, who is getting reps alongside established veterans while trying to absorb as much as he can each day. Bernards work ethic has stood out early, and for a team willing to invest in such an uncommon prospect, the challenge now is staying steady through the slow climb that comes with teaching football from scratch. [Read more 🡒]