The Philadelphia Eagles are getting ready to play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 on Sunday evening. The NFC champions are back in the big game for the second time in the last three years.
Coincidentally, the Eagles lost 38-35 to the Chiefs in Super Bowl 57. Philadelphia enters the Super Bowl relatively healthy, despite a few starters on the injury report.
If everybody is ready to play, Philadelphia will likely have several players listed as inactive for the biggest game of the season. Some of these inactive players have seen playing time in the regular season, while others are needed just in case of emergency.
Inactive players don’t usually get a ton of shine unless they are playing. However, they practice with the team and help the starters prepare for their opponent. Below, we’ll highlight five players to be made inactive ahead of Super Bowl 59.
1. Tanner McKee, QB
With Jalen Hurts and Kenny Pickett healthy, Tanner McKee becomes the emergency third QB, making him one of the guaranteed inactives for the Super Bowl.
McKee has been the designated QB3 for all three Eagles’ playoff games. McKee only plays in the Super Bowl if Hurts and Pickett get hurt, which Philly fans hope does not happen.
The second-year quarterback made his first career NFL start in Week 18 against the New York Giants. The former Stanford signal-caller completed 65.9 percent of his passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. McKee led the Eagles to a 20-13 win over the Giants to wrap up the regular season.
McKee appeared in his first NFL regular season game in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys after Pickett was banged up. The 24-year-old quarterback completed 3-of-4 passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-7 win over the Cowboys.
Heading into the regular season, many Eagles fans thought McKee should’ve been the QB2 over Pickett based on his play in the preseason. The former sixth-round pick played well in the regular season and appears to have a solid future in the NFL.
McKee will be locked in to see what Hurts and the Eagles’ offense do in the Super Bowl as he roots them on from the sidelines.