PHI Andy Dalton
NFL quarterback. Position: QB. Team: Philadelphia Eagles.
Quick Facts
- Position: QB
- Team: Philadelphia Eagles
- Age: 38
- NFL Experience: 15 seasons, 169 starts, ~40,000 passing yards
2026 Outlook
Veteran backup acquired from Carolina Panthers before 2026 season to compete with Tanner McKee for the No. 2 role in Philadelphia. Dalton brings extensive experience diagnosing coverage, managing pressure, and making quick decisions. His strength lies in command and accuracy rather than dynamic play—the Eagles value his ability to avoid costly mistakes when asked to fill in. In preseason, Dalton is competing against McKee for trust in Sean Mannion's system and with the Eagles' skill positions. Success requires demonstrating comfort in the offense and handling defensive pressure without creating turnovers (per Eagles backup quarterback battle moves into preseason spotlight).
Through two preseason games, Dalton has been the starter but hasn't yet separated himself from McKee. Against New England (Aug 23), he went 3-for-10 for 44 yards and a TD, leading the opening drive scoring but then losing snaps to McKee, who showed more consistency. (per Eagles vs. Patriots backup QB battle)
In the preseason finale against Cincinnati, Dalton showed improvement relative to McKee's poor outing (12-of-22, 55 yards). While Dalton didn't light up the stat sheet, he was "still far and away an improvement over McKee," according to HC Nick Sirianni's postgame assessment. Sirianni expressed confidence in both backup options, noting "I feel like it's a good room" (per Eagles news: Nick Sirianni believes QB2 battle is in 'good spot' amid preseason shakiness).
Role / Depth Chart
Backup QB competing for No. 2 role behind Jalen Hurts. Preseason performance vs. Tanner McKee will determine depth chart position.
Recent News
- 2026-08-23 — Roob's Instant Observations: McKee outplays Dalton in Eagles' preseason loss (Roob's Instant Observations: McKee outplays Dalton in Eagles' preseason loss)
- 2026-08-13 — Eagles backup QB competition heats up in preseason: Dalton vs. McKee (Eagles backup quarterback battle moves into preseason spotlight)