CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers spent the back half of their practice week rethinking how to defend Philadelphia after the Eagles announced that quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss Sunday’s game with a blood clot.
The news landed around 1 p.m. Thursday, shortly before practice. Several Panthers learned it on their phones, and defensive tackle Derrick Brown said he did not hear until midway through the session. Brown told reporters afterward that he would be spending extra time on film because he knew little about the replacement.
That replacement is Tanner McKee, a sixth-round pick in 2023 who has thrown 88 passes across the last two seasons in six appearances. Sunday will be his third career start and his first this season. Philadelphia had opened the year with Andy Dalton as the backup but released him after a rough Week 3 outing and moved McKee into the No. 2 job.
The Eagles said Hurts was cleated in the calf during a Week 4 loss to the Rams. A precautionary ultrasound after the team flew to London found a small clot that did not keep him out against Jacksonville, and he practiced fully on Wednesday. A follow-up scan that night showed the clot had moved, and the team said it is now working out a course of treatment.
Carolina has some inside knowledge. Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips played for the Eagles last season and saw McKee on the scout team, and he described the backup as a composed passer with good pocket presence. Linebacker Devin Lloyd said the defense would lean on backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, who was in Philadelphia in 2024. McKee made his first NFL appearance in relief of Pickett against Dallas in Week 17 that season, throwing two touchdown passes, and started the following week.
Players also voiced concern for Hurts. Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton went through his own version of the same medical problem before returning to the lineup.
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