‘I’ll Be Ready’

PHILADELPHIA – Only four passes were required to confirm what’s been a relatively common sentiment the past two seasons.

With two of his four attempts last Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys resulting in touchdowns, Eagles second-year quarterback Tanner McKee became the first player to throw for multiple touchdowns – in their first career game –  on fewer than five attempts.

McKee’s first career touchdown, a 20-yard strike, went to to wide receiver A.J. Brown, who initially heaved the ball into the crowd.

Fortunately for McKee, the team re-gained possession of the ball after it was returned by the fan who caught it. It’s now prominently displayed in the McKee household.

“We have like an NFLPA ball, kind of by the window,” McKee explained. “So, I just took that down and put that ball there. My wife’s pretty happy about it. So, yeah, it’s great.”

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles QB Tanner McKee, who threw 2 TDs on four passes in his debut, will make his first NFL start.

And on Sunday, McKee, affectionately dubbed the ‘Mormon Missile’ by left tackle Jordan Mailata, is likely to make his first NFL start against the New York Giants.

His performance against the Cowboys, albeit brief, was eye-opening, but hardly stunning, as McKee at every turn has looked the part and delivered in his opportunities in practice and preseason.

But even after hisefficient NFL debut, the Stanford product pinpointed areas of improvement when assessing his performance.

“Felt good,” he said. “Only threw four passes. Had a couple things that I wanted to do a little bit better, just running the offense. Had a false start, had a miscommunication.

“Obviously, it starts with the quarterback. So, I had a couple things that I’ll fix up. But overall, just first time getting my feet wet, was happy with the little reps that I did get.”

Making the moment even more remarkable is how McKee flawlessly executed the offense.

The sample size is minimal, for sure, but that the Eagles opted to turn McKee loose and take to the air as opposed to playing it safe and burning clock via ground game speaks to the confidence the staff has in the 24-year-old Stanford product who they drafted in the sixth round in 2023.

Aiding McKee in his preparation was that he’d taken the vast majority of first-team reps the Friday leading up to the game, as fellow quarterback Kenny Pickett nursed a rib injury.

Those reps, as they tend to do, prepared McKee for the moment for which he’d been waiting.

“It was great,” he said. “Obviously, was super excited just to get in for the first time, get a few snaps. But it is great because it feels like practice.

“When you’re out there, I’ve been here before – I’ve run these plays so many times before – which is a good feeling. You feel like you’re prepared.”

McKee won’t have the luxury of throwing to first-team wide receivers Brown and DeVonta Smith, or playing behind an offensive line that just had three named to the Pr Bowl, but having a full week of practice with many of the players he’s repped with throughout the season should put him in position to seize more opportunities.

Regardless, McKee will tell you that his approach doesn’t change.

“I would say same thing as always. Just be prepared to play,” he said. “Which I feel like I’ve done every game leading up to now. But I feel like I am gonna get a little bit more reps reps this week – which is great – with the guys that are gonna play.

“I’ll be ready. The expectation is to win the game, to move the ball, to put points on the board. So, that’s what we’re gonna do.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.