Andy Dalton’s tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles is off to a mixed start. The veteran quarterback drew the start in Saturday’s 24-7 preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens, completing three of six passes for 20 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Dalton played the first three possessions before giving way to Tanner McKee, but neither quarterback distinguished himself in a sluggish night for Philadelphia’s offense. According to Jeff Neiburg of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Dalton learned earlier in the week he would open the preseason schedule, though it could be McKee who starts the second preseason contest.
The competition for the backup job behind Jalen Hurts intensified when Dalton made his regular-season debut in relief during the Eagles’ Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears. With Philadelphia trailing 7-0, Hurts left for evaluation after being hit out of bounds by the Bears’ D’Marco Jackson. Dalton entered and promptly threw an interception in the end zone on his first pass attempt of the 2026 season, picked off by Chicago’s Dillon Thieneman. That miscue underscored the unpredictability of the QB2 battle, but it also served as confirmation that Dalton has won the backup competition for 2026—at least for now.
Despite the interception, Dalton’s position as the primary backup appears secure, though a decision on Philadelphia’s depth chart under center will soon need to be made. Predictions of trading away McKee have not come to fruition, and he is seeing competition to retain his responsibilities as Hurts’s primary backup. With training camp roughly a week and a half away, all eyes aren’t necessarily on this competition, but it could have major ramifications for the front office’s decision-making. The Eagles must weigh Dalton’s experience against McKee’s upside, and the preseason will be crucial in determining who ultimately secures the QB2 role.
Shimanta Das 
