Michael David Smith· Oct 17, 2026
Smith says Jalen Hurts will miss at least the Eagles' next four games due to a blood clot, with a chance he is out longer, and that Tanner McKee takes over as starter ahead of Cole Payton and Joe Milton.
“The Eagles will be without starting quarterback Jalen Hurts for at least four games.”
published in writing · NBC Sports · read the original →
4 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls and 1 availability call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 2.
Where this call stands in the room
Tanner McKee · 2026 season19 calls from 14 pundits between 1 and 3. Michael David Smith said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
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Who this take is about
4 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Depth Chart CallsTanner McKeePhiladelphia EaglesOct 17, 2026
Tanner McKee to be 1st on the depth chart
“While Hurts is out, backup quarterback Tanner McKee will start.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCole PaytonPhiladelphia EaglesOct 17, 2026
Cole Payton to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Rookie Cole Payton is currently McKee's backup”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Availability CallsJalen HurtsPhiladelphia EaglesOct 17, 2026
“The Eagles will be without starting quarterback Jalen Hurts for at least four games. ... The Eagles' next four games are against the Panthers, Cowboys, Commanders, and Giants, then have their bye.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Joe Milton III to be 3rd on the depth chart
“the recently signed Joe Milton is the No. 3 quarterback in Philadelphia”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Garrett PodellGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0Podell predicts the Eagles, behind new starting quarterback Joe Milton III, snap their six-game losing streak by upsetting the first-place Giants in Week 9.
- Conor OrrGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0Orr projects the Giants to finish 6-11 in 2026 under new head coach John Harbaugh, with a 1-6 start before the Week 8 bye and a 5-5 finish afterward, their lone first-half win coming at home against Arizona.
- Zachary PerelesScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 17Pereles picks the Eagles to beat the Commanders on Sunday Night Football, 20-17, expecting Philadelphia's defense to bounce back toward its Week 1 form.
- Henry BrownGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0Brown expects Washington's pre-deadline stretch to go badly, with losses to the 49ers in Week 6, the Eagles, and the Rams in Week 9 leaving the Commanders winless in five straight heading into the trade deadline.
- “Stanford Steve” CoughlinGame Outcome Picks · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 0Stanford Steve says Atlanta can beat San Francisco outright with Mike Evans out, and that Philadelphia probably wins its Monday night game.
- Richard ShermanScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesMiss · 17Sherman went through the full Week 7 slate with scores, picking the 49ers, Seahawks, Packers, Bears, Rams, Vikings, Steelers, Panthers, Texans, Jets, Browns, Broncos and Eagles, and gave a top-five power ranking led by San Francisco.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jeremy BrenerDepth Chart Calls · Jalen MilroeMiss · 0Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for his first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury.
- Michael MooreDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersHit · 100In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. He also expects Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.
- Zachary PerelesDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersHit · 100Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints.
- Nic BodifordDepth Chart Calls · Joe FagnanoHit · 100Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. He also views Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.
- Garrett PodellDepth Chart Calls · Carson BeckMiss · 0Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace him as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut.
- Jacob HerlinDepth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthyHit · 100Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. He also expects Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.