Andy Dalton gets start for Eagles against Ravens in preseason opener

The Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback competition got its first real game test Saturday night against the Baltimore Ravens. Veteran Andy Dalton was the starter at quarterback for Philadelphia in the preseason opener, with Tanner McKee scheduled to follow. The decision provides the first significant indication of how the Eagles are evaluating their competition to become Jalen Hurts' primary backup. Philadelphia has maintained throughout training camp that Dalton and McKee are competing for the QB2 position. The team's first unofficial depth chart listed both quarterbacks behind Hurts, reinforcing the idea that the competition remained open entering the preseason. Dalton's start is noteworthy because he has received more second-team repetitions than McKee during training camp and appears to have gained an advantage in the competition. His experience also gives him familiarity with concepts similar to those being installed by new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. That does not mean McKee is out of the competition. The 26-year-old quarterback has spent the past two seasons developing behind Hurts and entered training camp with a legitimate opportunity to retain his backup role. A strong performance after Dalton exits could quickly change the conversation, particularly because the Eagles need to evaluate how both quarterbacks operate Mannion's new offense in a live-game environment. There could also be roster implications beyond the depth chart. If Dalton clearly separates himself from McKee, Philadelphia could eventually explore whether McKee has trade value elsewhere. Conversely, if McKee performs well while Dalton struggles, the Eagles could face a difficult decision. Saturday is only the first preseason game, but it represents an important checkpoint. Dalton gets the first opportunity. McKee gets the next one. By the end of the night, the Eagles should have considerably more information about their backup quarterback battle. This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Andy Dalton gets start for Eagles against Ravens in preseason opener