Who Should I Start? Malik Willis or Tanner McKee

Tuesday, August 19, 12:31 PM

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that backup quarterback Malik Willis will play in the preseason finale on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers also plan on playing some or most of their starters, at least for a little bit. We would be surprised if starting QB Jordan Love (thumb) plays this weekend after having a minor surgery on his left (non-throwing) thumb last week. The 26-year-old Willis went 6-for-14 for 83 yards on the first three possessions of the second preseason game last weekend against the Indianapolis Colts. Love is fully expected to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September, so Willis is primed to open the season as Green Bay's backup signal-caller. The former third-rounder by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 played in seven games in his first year with the Packers in 2024 and led the team to two wins with Love sidelined by injury.

Sunday, August 24, 2:50 PM

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee (thumb) has suffered a fractured thumb that could lead to him being unavailable for Week 1, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. McKee is not expected to require a stint on injured reserve as the fracture is considered relatively minor. Philadelphia acquired quarterback Sam Howell from the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, so Howell could open the season as the backup to Jalen Hurts while McKee is sidelined. However, Rapoport writes that the Howell trade "likely would've happened" regardless of McKee's injury status, so the Eagles may be planning to carry three quarterbacks. Assuming McKee can make a quick return, he remains the name for fantasy managers to know should Hurts go down with an injury.