The moment is here for quarterback Tanner McKee, and he intends to maximize the opportunity. In the NFL, every player understands the responsibility: When the time comes, and it will for every player, it is imperative to be ready, to be prepared, to produce.

Tanner McKee, starting quarterback. This isn't a Week 18 game, where McKee has gained the only two starts of his four-year NFL career to date. This is Week 6, at Lincoln Financial Field against the Carolina Panthers defense with so much at stake.

McKee, replacing Jalen Hurts – out with a blood clot in his calf as announced by the Eagles on Thursday, has prepared every day since the day the Eagles selected him with a sixth-round draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for this very scenario.

"As a backup quarterback, that's the mindset you have to have," McKee said on Thursday at his locker in the Jefferson Health Training Complex. "At any moment, you have to be ready to play on a Sunday. It could be the first play, it could be the last play. It's kind of a luxury for me to have the '1' (starter) reps in practice and just running the meetings or whatever it is. It's kind of a luxury for me as a backup to have a week to prepare like that."

McKee also subbed in when the Eagles defeated Dallas in the 2024 regular season and he has played well each time on the field. McKee's numbers: five touchdown passes, one interception, 61.4 completion percentage, and 597 passing yards.

"Full confidence in Tanner. He knows the offense and we've connected before," wide receiver Darius Cooper said. "I know he's going to go out there and do a great job. It's not just him. We all have jobs to do. We need to get this win."

The Eagles are looking to get back into the "W" column after three consecutive losses and they'll be going against a Panthers defense that is well rested after enjoying its bye week.

McKee, already in preparation mode before being told he would be bumping up to the starting role just before practice began on Thursday, understands the situation.

"Getting used to the Panthers' flavor," McKee said.

McKee has been the third-team quarterback this season, the second-stringer, and now he's going to be the starter. It's just business, he said.

"That's the NFL. The preparation is the same. I felt I was ready at any moment these last few weeks, so nothing changes from that standpoint," McKee said. "My level of confidence in the offense has been great, it's been growing. It's been nice to get the extra reps and also have conversations with Sean (Mannion, offensive coordinator) about what he likes, what I like, how we like to attack the Panthers.

"Every opportunity you get to play is a huge opportunity, especially being a sixth-round pick. Every opportunity is a huge opportunity. I'm obviously very excited and ready to make the most of it."

McKee is a wily veteran at this point, so he knows what to expect. That it's Week 6 versus Week 18 means there are more starters playing and, of course, that the Eagles haven't clinched a thing. Football is what he loves to do, and he's going to relish everything leading up to and including Sunday.

"It's just fun. Obviously, I love the game. I love to play, just being out there and taking control and being in charge of the huddle," he said. "You get a lot of scout-team reps as a backup, or third string, so to run a huddle with our offense a little bit more, it's a lot of fun. Feel that burn, feel that drive, the excitement, yeah, I'm really excited to be out there."

And the Panthers, ranked 29th in the NFL in total defense (387.2 yards/game and 27.3 points/game)? What do they do well?

"Really good front. Their down guys are good, their linebackers fly around, and they do a good job disguising what they're going to give," McKee said. "They don't have super-easy 'man' (coverage) tells, so that's going to be a little more onus on us to watch film to find those tells to use our motions, use our formations, whatever it is so we can play ahead of the game."