Eagles newcomers ‘26: Will Andy Dalton emerge as QB2 behind Jalen Hurts?
The Inquirer's new Eagles faces series begins with Dalton and a lesser-known name, defensive back Kapena Gushiken.
With Eagles training camp drawing nearer on the horizon, The Inquirer is taking a closer look at the more than three-dozen new faces who are expected to report along with the rest of the team on July 28. Whether a 2026 draft choice, a veteran addition or a rookie free-agent hopeful, we’re telling you more about each player’s potential role this season. We’re rolling out two players per day in a mostly unscientific order that balances offense and defense, bigger names with mysteries, and locks with longer shots to be chosen for the 53-man roster.
Player: Andy Dalton
Position: Quarterback
Age: 38
Previous experience: Dalton has the most NFL experience on the 2026 Eagles — unless Brandon Graham returns. The veteran quarterback is going into his 16th NFL season. Dalton began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, the team that drafted him in the second round, 35th overall in the 2011 draft out of TCU.
He started 133 games over nine seasons with the Bengals and reached the playoffs in five straight years (2011-15). Although Dalton was successful during the regular season, the three-time Pro Bowler has not won a postseason game in his career.
The Bengals eventually moved on from Dalton in favor of 2020 first-overall pick Joe Burrow, marking the beginning of the veteran’s journeyman career. Dalton has spent time primarily as a backup with the Dallas Cowboys (2020), the Chicago Bears (2021), the New Orleans Saints (2022), and the Carolina Panthers (2023-25).
He has started 36 games since 2020 (14 wins, 22 losses), completing 65.1% of his passing attempts while throwing 50 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. In his seven starts over the last three seasons with the Panthers (one win, six losses), Dalton completed 64.7% of his passes, throwing 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Path to a roster spot: Seeing as the Eagles tend to carry three quarterbacks on the active roster, Dalton is essentially a lock to make the team out of training camp. But in the aftermath of the offseason program, bigger questions linger about his role on the team.
Dalton and Tanner McKee split reps with the second-team offense behind Jalen Hurts, while Nick Sirianni did not commit to McKee as the backup for the upcoming season. Could Dalton have a chance to usurp the incumbent McKee for the QB2 role in training camp? And does Dalton’s contention for the job indicate that McKee could be a candidate for a trade ahead of the start of the regular season?
Alternatively, if teams aren’t willing to take a chance on the inexperienced McKee (who has started just two games over the last two seasons), could Dalton eventually be on the move before the November trade deadline? The Eagles seem to have options with their depth quarterbacks depending on their preseason performances and the team’s start to the season.
Fun fact: In addition to having zero career playoff wins, Dalton has thrown just one touchdown pass in the postseason. His lone passing touchdown — a 4-yard completion to tight end Jermaine Gresham — came in the Bengals’ 27-10 wild-card loss to the San Diego Chargers during the 2013 season.
Since 1970, 83 quarterbacks have played at least 10 NFL seasons and started at least four playoff games, according to Stathead. Dalton has the fewest passing touchdowns in the postseason among them.
Quotable: “Any time you’ve got a guy that’s got experience, different types of experiences, you lean on that. Having a relationship with him, I was with him in Carolina, so being with him prior, [I] knew that he had that wealth of knowledge, that he’s open to helping other guys as well … he’s a great resource for all of us to be able to lean on, just a guy that’s played a lot in the NFL successfully.” — Eagles quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier on Dalton
Player: Kapena Gushiken
Position: Defensive back
Age: 23
Previous experience: As an undersized defensive back at 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, Gushiken wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school in Maui, Hawaii, according to The Seattle Times. But his coach at Kamehameha High School knew the coach at Saddleback College, a community college located in Mission Viejo, Calif, a connection that would lead to the first stop in his college football career.
He spent two years at Saddleback and became a starter in his second season. As a sophomore, Gushiken posted 22 tackles (one for a loss), six pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble in nine games. His strong JUCO performance earned him opportunities at the Division I level, first at Washington State (2023-24) and then at Ole Miss (2025).
Through 40 games (28 starts) over his final three seasons, Gushiken racked up 143 tackles (5½ for a loss), 20 pass breakups, four interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), two fumble recoveries, and a sack. Gushiken has played every spot in the secondary, from outside cornerback at Saddleback to nickel cornerback at Washington State to safety at Ole Miss.
Gushiken, now listed at 5-9, 189 pounds, signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent this offseason.
» READ MORE: A way-too-early Eagles 53-man roster prediction: How might the personnel picture change before training camp begins?
Path to a roster spot: Special teams and safety depth. Gushiken is a long shot to make the initial 53-man roster, but he has a chance to carve out a role on the team, especially on the practice squad. Still, in May, Vic Fangio called the starting safety spot vacated by Reed Blankenship “open,” acknowledging that Marcus Epps, Michael Carter, Andrè Sam, J.T. Gray, and “Gush” will each get a look in the competition when the Eagles are in nickel. Cooper DeJean will start at safety alongside Drew Mukuba in base.
Special teams will be Gushiken’s most likely path to a role on the Eagles in 2026. His overall athleticism, as evidenced by his 4.35 40-yard dash at his pro day, makes him a strong candidate for the unit.
Fun fact: In high school, Gushiken lettered in football, track, volleyball, and basketball. As a junior in 2019, he ran a personal best of 11.17 seconds in the 100-meter dash at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championship.
Quotable: “He’s really versatile. He can play a bunch of spots, a really savvy player. Hoping he can be [former Ole Miss safety] Trey Washington-ish for us. He’s really smart. So it’s really good to have him.” — former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin on Gushiken, via 24/7 Sports.
Jeffrey Lurie has owned the Philadelphia Eagles, which he purchased in 1994, longer than his son, Julian, has been alive. But in recent years, the younger Lurie, heir to the franchise and now 31, has assumed a more pervasive and influential role in the organization. While the Eagles have made no secret about Julian’s increased involvement with the team, specifics about his role have been scant. In recent months, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane spoke to nearly two dozen sources on and off the record to gain a better understanding of not just who Julian Lurie is and what he does, but - most important of all - whether he’ll be ready to assume the reins as Eagles Chairman and CEO, whenever the time comes. Jeff shares the biggest takeaways from his reporting with Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski in this companion episode to Jeff’s feature article about the Eagles' succession plan. Listen here.
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