League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Coaching

Nick Sirianni withholds Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback designation

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 9, 2026, 11:46 PM

Last updated Sep 9, 2026

Nick Sirianni withholds Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback designation

Summary

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has declined to name the team's primary backup quarterback ahead of the 2026 season opener. The team is scheduled to face the Washington Commanders shortly, but the backup position remains contested between Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee. Sirianni cited competitive strategy for the decision to withhold the information from the public. He noted that the coaching staff does not want the opponent to dedicate time to preparing for one specific candidate over the other. Jalen Hurts will return as the starting quarterback for his sixth consecutive season with the franchise. Sirianni confirmed the team has a designated backup in mind but will keep the identity internal for the time being.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Key Details

•Nick Sirianni refused to announce the Eagles' backup quarterback before the game against the Washington Commanders.
•Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee are the two players competing for the backup role.
•Jalen Hurts is confirmed as the starting quarterback for the 2026 season.
•The head coach stated that competitive reasons prevent him from revealing the decision publicly yet.

Latest Updates

11:46 PMYahoo Sports — Nick Sirianni remains mum regarding Eagles' backup quarterback situation

What they're saying

"
It will the sixth straight season as the starter in Philadelphia for Hurts, who already has two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl victory under his belt. But, we still don't know what the backup quarterback will be for the Eagles.
— Yahoo Sports

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