For the second time in as many weeks, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett exited a game in pain. What’s the latest on the Eagles’ current starting quarterback?
What Happened to Kenny Pickett?
On 3rd-and-goal with 8:56 remaining in the third quarter, Pickett was rocked on a hit from Dallas Cowboys All-Pro Micah Parsons. Pickett left for the sidelines in pain, with Tanner McKee entering the game on the next play.
Kenny Pickett is being looked at on the sideline after getting hit hard by Micah Parsons on this play.pic.twitter.com/B8lxPelvBV
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 29, 2024
To add insult to injury, Pickett’s touchdown to A.J. Brown was nullified by a Landon Dickerson holding penalty. Pickett subsequently left for the locker room, accompanied by trainers.
Pickett never returned after team declared him questionable to return with a rib injury. He was a limited participant in two of the three practices this week with that same injury, implying a re-aggravation of the issue. The good news is that the broadcast noted that the Eagles did not declare him out to keep Pickett available as an emergency quarterback, which could suggest that this was not a serious injury.
Pickett started with Jalen Hurts missing his first game of the season in concussion protocol. The former first-rounder played the majority of the Week 16 loss to the Washington Commanders after Hurts exited in the first quarter with his injury.
The Eagles trounced the Cowboys 41-7, clinching the NFC East and becoming the first NFC team to win its division in the process.
Potential Fantasy Fallout From Pickett’s Injury
Analysis via PFN’s Kyle Soppe
The Eagles have McKee, a sixth-round pick out of Stanford, behind Hurts and Pickett. He was drafted for his size profile more than anything and wouldn’t mean anything for fantasy football managers.
Philadelphia is trying to get to the postseason healthy, and that could render this entire roster useless for Week 18. The Eagles could conceivably be locked into the No. 2 seed entering Week 18 and sit the majority of their starters.
Who Is Tanner McKee?
With Hurts out and Pickett ailing, the Eagles’ next man up at quarterback is McKee.
McKee was a two-year starter at Stanford and was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round in 2023. However, he had not played a down since then until Sunday, making Week 17 his first career NFL game. McKee’s first touchdown came on a 20-yard back shoulder strike to A.J. Brown in the third quarter.
Tanner McKee finds AJ Brown for his first career NFL TD! pic.twitter.com/0O8Hjvb2vM
— Shane Haff (@ShaneHaffNFL) December 29, 2024
McKee fared well in a small sample in relief, completing 3/4 passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns (he also found DeVonta Smith for a 25-yarder). With the Eagles potentially locked in to the No. 2 seed, he could start Week 18 vs. the New York Giants to buy some rest for both Hurts and Pickett.
McKee threw 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions over 23 career games in college. Pickett was shaken up in the Commanders game, but he managed to re-enter without missing a play since his injury came at the end of a series.