Meet Tanner McKee, the Eagles backup expected to start after Jalen Hurts’ blood clot scare

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With Jalen Hurts out for the foreseeable future, the Eagles will likely be turning to a familiar face as their quarterback.

Backup QB Tanner McKee, selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, will likely start for the Eagles as Hurts is sidelined with a blood clot in his calf.

Although the Eagles do have another option in rookie Cole Payton, McKee, 26, has more NFL experience and served as Hurts’ primary backup last season.

McKee, who has yet to play a snap this season, has played in six NFL games across the past two seasons, starting each of the Eagles’ Week 18 games.

During his time as a backup, McKee has racked up 597 passing yards and five touchdowns to one interception, completing 61.4 percent of his passes.

Before being drafted by Philadelphia, McKee was a standout at Stanford, starting two seasons for the Cardinal and accumulating 5,336 passing yards and 28 touchdowns across his three-year college career.

McKee, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, entered college late after serving a two-year mission in Brazil, with a roster spot waiting for him at Stanford.

Upon joining the Cardinal, McKee thanked his strict regimen on the mission as to why he was prepared for college football.

“Because we had that weight room in my last area, I think I gained back 10 pounds,” McKee told Deseret News in 2020 after returning from his mission. “That was super nice. We worked out every morning and I was able to get a little bit back in shape.

“He threw the rugby ball and I threw the football. Now, when I throw, my arm doesn’t really get sore. It’s nice to come back home and work out at full speed.”