The Philadelphia Eagles have some decisions to make in the coming days surrounding the quarterback position. Jalen Hurts is the unquestioned starter, but three players were competing for backup roles. Tanner McKee, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and rookie Kyle McCord all had moments throughout training camp and the preseason, but only one will be Hurts’ locked-in backup on game days.
Following the Eagles 22-13 loss to the Browns in Week 2 of the preseason, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni commented on the competition in a press conference: “We wanted to get both of [Thompson-Robinson and McCord] reps, and get both of them reps with the twos and also with the threes. So that was the thought process of why we rotated them within that series. Again, wanted them to both be able to play behind the [number] two offensive line with the number two pass catchers and also with the number threes.”
“I felt like it was just not great complimentary football today,” Sirianni said when asked about how Thompson-Robinson and McCord played against the Browns. “When you have the heat like that, you want to be able to — defense had some long drives, offense had some three-and-outs and you want to be able to play complimentary football in that area. I have to watch the tape. Obviously, they had some good moments and had some plays that they made, but also we missed some plays. But, that’s not always just on the quarterback if there was a misplay. I’ll have to go watch the tape. It wasn’t good enough out there on the field today. Coaching, playing, anything.”
Tanner McKee Wins the Eagles’ Backup Quarterback Job
Even before Sirianni’s statement on the matter in this press conference, it seemed pretty clear that McKee had separated himself in the competition. He’s run with the second unit throughout most of training camp, and did not play against the Browns.
“Yeah, he got a lot of good work in that joint practice,” Sirianni said when asked why McKee didn’t play. “Sometimes we only get one joint practice. This week, we were able to get two joint practices in there. It was really good work all week, and we felt like in that situation we saw a good chunk of Tanner there and that was his work for this week.”
It should be noted that Thompson-Robinson did not play in the Eagles final preseason game against the Jets. McCord was the only quarterback to play, going 15/35 for 136 yards and an interception.
Eagles S Andrew Mukuba Continues to Impress
Mitchell Leff/GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – AUGUST 16: Andrew Mukuba #24 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball after his interception against the Cleveland Browns in the first half of the NFL Preseason 2025 game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
One non-quarterback subject Sirianni spoke at length about was the play of rookie second-round safety Andrew Mukuba. “I always thought that he has a knack for the football; how he practices, watching his tape whether it was at Clemson or at Texas, and he has the ability to take the ball away as a playmaker,” he said. “Any time you go out there and make a play, that’s big. That was exciting, the interception. And even the one when he was there for the fumble recovery after they had a missed exchange. Guys that have a knack for the football just find ways to be around the football and I think that’s what we saw today.”
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