Report: Eagles trade for Vikings QB Sam Howell amid Tanner McKee injury

The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly traded for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Howell, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The two teams also exchanged draft picks.

“Minnesota gets a 2026 5th-round pick and a 2027 7th,” Pelissero wrote on Twitter/X. “Philadelphia gets a 2026 6th and Howell, an experienced backup for Jalen Hurts while Tanner McKee deals with an injury.”

After the Eagles traded Kenny Pickett to the Cleveland Browns this offseason, they elevated McKee to QB2 behind Hurts. McKee impressed in action late last season, as well as in the preseason. The former Stanford QB is currently dealing with an injury, so Philadelphia grabbed some insurance.

The other quartetrbacks on the roster are rookie Kyle McCord and veteran Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Ironically, the Vikings came to a contractual agreement with former Eagles No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Wentz will now back up J.J. McCarthy.

Sam Howell to backup Jalen Hurts on Philadelphia Eagles

As it stands, Howell will backup Hurts while McKee deals with a finger injury. He was held out of Philadelphia’s last two preseason games and his status is up in the air regarding Week 1’s opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Howell, a former North Carolina quarterback, has played in 20 games across three seasons and started all 17 games for the Washington Commanders in 2023. He spent the 2024 campaign with the Seattle Seahawks.

In 2023, Howell threw for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns, 21 interceptions and had a 63.4% completion percentage. While at UNC, Howell threw for 10,283 yards, 92 touchdowns, 23 interceptions and a 63.8% completion percentage in three seasons.

Howell was the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2019 and made Third-Team (2019) and Second-Team (2020) All-ACC. A former fifth round pick in 2022, Howell is now on the fourth team of his career.

The Eagles open the season on September 4th against the Dallas Cowboys to kickoff the 2025 NFL season. They’ll raise their Super Bowl LIX banner pregame.