PHILADELPHIA — Greetings from the press box at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Philadelphia Eagles will square off against the Carolina Panthers at 1 p.m. Sunday.
This will be the first of at least four games the Eagles will have to play without Jalen Hurts.
Hurts landed on IR on Saturday after it was announced earlier in the week that he is dealing with a blood clot in his leg.
Tanner McKee, last year’s backup, will start in Hurts’ place.
McKee will do so short-handed. DeVonta Smith is back, but the Eagles are still without Saquon Barkley. The star running back went out early against the Rams in Week 4 with a hamstring injury and has not returned to practice since.
McKee will be protected by a makeshift offensive line. Left guard Landon Dickerson, despite having his 21-day practice window opened off IR, will not be available.
The Eagles’ strong defense will be tested against an electric Carolina offense, powered by Bryce Young, Tetairoa McMillan and Chuba Hubbard.
The Eagles are 3-point home underdogs, per FanDuel.
We’ll see if Nick Sirianni’s team can end its three-game losing streak and get back in the win column.
Stay tuned for updates from the Linc throughout the afternoon.
FIRST QUARTER
9:36 — Panthers 3, Eagles 0
And we have another three-and-out from the Eagles’ offense. This could be ugly.
10:50 — Panthers 3, Eagles 0
The Panthers draw first blood with a 47-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald. The Eagles made a third-and-4 stand, with Nolan Smith and others stopping Chuba Hubbard for no gain. But an 11-yard run by Hubbard and a 15-yard catch by Tetairoa McMillan was enough to get Carolina in FG range.
12:57 — Eagles 0, Panthers 0
Tanner McKee, making his first meaningful NFL start, was sacked on his first snap. McKee was snowed under while rolling out on an under-center, play-action pass. The Eagles quickly punted on a three-and-out. Not ideal.
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