The Philadelphia Eagles opened the 2025 NFL season with a different backup quarterback behind Jalen Hurts. Sam Howell, whom the Eagles acquired in a trade from the Minnesota Vikings after their last preseason, took the QB2 reins for an injured Tanner McKee.
McKee has been dealing with a fractured thumb since the end of the final week of preseason, which prevented him from practicing last week. The Eagles hoped that McKee would be ready to go for Week 2, but that won’t be the case.
On Wednesday, Zach Berman of The Athletic reported that the second-year quarterback is still not throwing at practice. This isn’t the best news to start the week of practice, as the Eagles prepare to go into Arrowhead Stadium.
Eagles QB Tanner McKee Still Not Practicing Ahead of Week 2 Matchup vs. Chiefs
That said, the Eagles still haven't announced an official injury designation, which we will find out in the near future. McKee isn't practicing, which sets up for Howell to again be the QB2 behind Hurts for Sunday’s game.
Howell hasn’t been with the team for long due to his late-offseason acquisition. He has starting experience and has been with three different organizations before landing in Philadelphia, though, which likely appeals to head coach Nick Sirianni.
Additionally, this is his second week of practice with the team, so one hopes Howell is beginning to pick up the playbook, just in case he has to play. The last time the former Vikings quarterback played in a regular-season game was in Week 14 with the Seattle Seahawks last year.
The young quarterback struggled mightily, as he only completed 5-of-14 passes for 24 yards and an interception. Howell was also under fire from the Green Bay Packers’ defense, as he was sacked four times. Fortunately, the Eagles' frontline will be a massive improvement if he's forced to see any action.
Eagles fans hope that the former Washington Commanders quarterback has improved from that performance, as he needs to be ready until McKee returns. The Eagles had planned for Howell to be the QB3 after seeing the debacle with Kyle McCord and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but now he’ll be on the verge of being QB2 for the second-straight week.