For the second week in a row, the Philadelphia Eagles rolled out Andy Dalton as the starting quarterback. He faced the New England Patriots before Tanner McKee took the field.
Both quarterbacks are known to be in a battle to become Jalen Hurts’ backup, a position that Tanner McKee held during the 2025 NFL season.
15-Year NFL QB Andy Dalton Addresses Eagles QB Battle After Loss vs Patriots
GettyFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 22: Andy Dalton #14 of the Philadelphia Eagles and Behren Morton #15 of the New England Patriots shake hands after the preseason game at Gillette Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images)
Following Saturday’s action between the Eagles and the Patriots, Andy Dalton was asked about his thoughts on where he stands.
“Yeah, I mean I don’t know. We will have to see how it all goes,” Dalton told reporters after the game. “You know, I think that’s one thing that there’s not much been said with everything. Where every day is a new day, and so, we’ll see how it all ends up.”
Clearly, Dalton still doesn’t have any clue about what the Eagles are thinking, but anybody tuned into the August 22 action saw that McKee had a stronger performance.
Dalton checked in and threw 10 passes. He completed just three of his passes for 44 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Meanwhile, McKee had more reps and took advantage of every one. He threw 16-of-22, totaling 173 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
“I think we’re focusing on the here and now. All that other stuff is not what we’re worried about. I mean, just focused on what we can control,” Dalton finished.
The Eagles Have One More Week
GettyBALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 15: Andy Dalton #14 of the Philadelphia Eagles attempts a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of the preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The Eagles have one more week to figure out their winner. In Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, neither Dalton nor McKee had a great showing. The rookie Cole Payton ended up becoming the quarterback with the most praise. This week, there is no question about it: McKee found separation on the tape. Soon, we’ll see if the Eagles’ coaching staff takes immediate action.
The team could be waiting for one more week. Next week (Friday, August 28), the Eagles will face the Cincinnati Bengals. That game serves as the preseason finale, which could determine QB2 officially.