Hurts is sidelined indefinitely after a blood clot was found in his calf, leaving McKee to start as Philadelphia tries to snap a three-game skid.
The Philadelphia Eagles will be without Jalen Hurts indefinitely after doctors found a blood clot in his calf, pushing backup Tanner McKee into his first meaningful NFL start. McKee is set to take the field on Sunday against the Panthers as the Eagles try to halt a three-game skid and stay in the NFC East race.
Hurts' health comes first, and he will now go through treatment for the clot rather than suiting up. Before stepping aside, Hurts made a point of backing his replacement. McKee said Hurts turned to him and simply said, "Looks like you're the guy this week," adding that Hurts called him an unbelievable teammate and promised to have his back if he needed anything.
McKee, a former Stanford quarterback, now gets the biggest opportunity of his career at a pivotal moment for Philadelphia. The Eagles have leaned on Hurts for years, but with him out indefinitely, McKee's performance against Carolina will say a lot about where this team stands the rest of the way. Hurts remains available to McKee as a resource even while he can't play.