The Eagles’ quarterback picture keeps getting messier, and Andy Dalton is the latest twist.
With Jalen Hurts expected to miss the rest of the season because of blood clot issues, Philadelphia’s plan under center has become even harder to read. Tanner McKee started in Week 6 after opening the 2026 season in a QB2 battle with Dalton, but the bigger question now is what the Eagles do next after Dalton declined a chance to return.
Dalton’s path with Philadelphia took a sharp turn over the past few weeks. He entered the season as one of Hurts’ backups and got into the Week 3 game against the Bears after Hurts was sent to the medical tent. That cameo turned costly, though, as Dalton threw an interception in a blowout loss before Hurts returned.
From there, the Eagles’ depth chart shifted. McKee moved ahead of Dalton as the direct backup, and Philadelphia released Dalton on Oct. 9, before Hurts’ Week 6 absence became public because of blood clotting issues.
Once Hurts’ diagnosis worsened, the Eagles went looking for help again. They added Joe Milton from the Cowboys’ practice squad, and according to NBC Sports, they also tried to bring Dalton back.
He wasn’t interested. NBC Sports reported the Eagles “wanted to bring him back,” but Dalton “politely declined.”
Instead, Dalton signed with the Falcons on Monday to back up Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa.
That leaves Philadelphia with a thinner quarterback room and McKee at the top for now. The current depth chart lists McKee first, Cole Payton second and Milton third. McKee threw for 215 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 25-14 loss to the Panthers.
The Eagles may not be done searching. Payton, a fifth-round pick out of North Dakota State in April, brings athleticism and rushing ability, but his passing game is limited. Milton has a big arm, though turnovers and inconsistency have followed him in the NFL.
If Philadelphia looks outside the building, Cooper Rush is one name to watch after Atlanta released him to make room for Dalton. Jimmy Garoppolo, who remained unsigned this offseason, is also still available. Other possible trade targets mentioned include Gardner Minshew, Shedeur Sanders, Mason Rudolph, Anthony Richardson and Spencer Rattler.
For the moment, McKee is still set to run the offense.
In Other News...
Jordan Mailata Just Put Eagles Offense On Notice
The Eagles are trying to steady themselves after a 25-14 loss to the Panthers, a game that underscored how thin the margin gets when key pieces are unavailable. Without Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia has had to lean harder on the rest of the roster, and Jordan Mailata made clear the offense cannot afford to let the details slip while both players work through injuries and their return timelines stay unclear.
Mailata framed the fix in simple terms: the Eagles need better focus and effort to clean up the kind of mistakes that stall drives and pile up pressure on everyone else. With Dallas next on the schedule on October 26, Philadelphia does not have much time to sort out its rhythm, especially with Hurts calf issue and Barkleys hamstring injury still hanging over the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Mailata Just Put The Eagles Biggest Problem On Blast
The Eagles defense spent too much time chasing the Panthers in the 25-14 loss, and the imbalance showed up in a way that has become hard to ignore. With the offense sputtering on the ground and piling up penalties, Philadelphias front seven wound up absorbing the kind of workload that wears a team down long before the fourth quarter arrives.
Jordan Mailata did not shy away from saying the quiet part out loud after the game. The left tackle pointed to the offenses lack of discipline and accountability as a major reason the defense was left in that spot, underscoring how much the Eagles need the unit on the other side of the ball to clean up its act before the strain starts showing up in even bigger ways. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Have An Under Center Problem They Cant Ignore
The Eagles work from under center has become hard to ignore after the loss to Carolina, where the offense leaned on play-action and got almost nothing out of it. The game plan included five under-center dropbacks, and none of those throws turned into completions as the pocket got squeezed and the rhythm never really showed up. It fit a larger pattern for Philadelphia this season, one that has made the most traditional part of the playbook look far less dependable than the shotgun looks this offense usually prefers.
Jalen Hurts has been part of the issue, too, with the numbers showing far less success when he is asked to operate from under center instead of in shotgun. Tanner McKee has had similar trouble in those situations, which leaves the Eagles with an uncomfortable question about how much of the offense can still live in that space. For a team trying to stay balanced and keep defenses honest, the under-center package is starting to look like a problem that cannot just be brushed aside. [Read more 🡒]