The Philadelphia Eagles hosted the Indianapolis Colts for the 2023 NFL Preseason finale at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday evening.
Head coach Nick Sirianni remained committed to resting his starters following a long run to the Super Bowl last year.
Jalen Hurts and company did not play a single snap in the exhibition season, which opened the door for Eagles fans to get a glimpse at some of the team’s other signal callers.
McKee Looks More NFL-Ready Than Anthony Richardson
Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee was one of the standouts at Eagles’ training camp and he continued his strong showing during the preseason on Thursday.
At halftime, McKee was already 15 of 26 passing for 139 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
The 6-foot-6 rookie has looked poised beyond his years in the pocket and it showed on Thursday when he was matched up against fellow Colts’ rookie Anthony Richardson, who was drafted with the No. 4 overall pick in Round 1.
While it wasn’t a big day for the Eagles’ sixth-round pick, McKee appeared comfortable reading the Colts’ coverages and taking what the defense was giving him.
That wasn’t the case for Richardson, who finished 6-of-17 passing for 78 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions on the day. Richardson did show off his athleticism on a 16-yard run and had 38 rushing yards before exiting the game.
McKee wasn’t afraid to attempt throws with a high degree of difficulty and the Eagles’ coaching staff trusted him to convert on a 4th and 3 situation.
Here, he dissects the Colts’ zone defense in the two-minute drill before the half.
Can McKee Win The Backup Quarterback Job?
So far this preseason, McKee has looked nothing like a sixth-round pick. In fact, he’s outshined a number of higher-profile rookies during the preseason.
Against Cleveland, McKee finished 10-of-18 passing for 147 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers.
On the other hand, Eagles’ backup quarterback Marcus Mariota has endured a bit of a difficult start to his time in Philadelphia. Several reports surfaced out of training camp about Mariota’s struggles, and while he finished strong in joint practices against the Browns, he showed glimpses of his old self in Philadelphia’s first two preseason contests.
Despite Mariota’s apparent struggles and clamoring from fans, don’t expect McKee to overtake the No. 2 spot on the Eagles’ depth chart.
Eagles’ offensive coordinator Brian Johnson was already asked the question during camp and told reporters that while the team is pleased with McKee’s development, Mariota is the unquestioned backup to Hurts heading into Week 1.
It makes sense to be patient with Mariota, especially considering the fact that he’s just a few months into learning a new system. Among the backup quarterbacks, Mariota probably gives the Eagles the best chance to win a big game during the season.
However, if he manages to get on the field for one reason or another, and things don’t go as planned, it will only be a matter of time before Eagles fans start calling for McKee to get some reps.
[…] Many fans in Philly are crossing their fingers that Mariota will be let go or that McKee will earn the QB2 job. […]