The Philadelphia Eagles will face the Carolina Panthers with a skeleton of their projected starting lineup from opening day, particularly on offense.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss Sunday's contest after a scan found a superficial blood clot that moved from a previous screening over the weekend. In his place, untested backup Tanner McKee will make his third career start. The Eagles also signed Joe Milton from the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.

McKee will not be able to rely on any running back from the Eagles' opening day roster. Saquon Barkley has played parts of four games this year and will miss a second consecutive matchup on Sunday as he recovers from a nagging hamstring injury.

Barkley hasn't been great even when he's played. He has 36 carries for 182 yards this year and hasn't found the endzone yet. Two years ago, he topped 2,000 rushing yards.

Backup back Tank Bigsby is already on the IR with an abdominal injury. Joining him this week is third-string running back Will Shipley after suffering a partial tear of his plantar fascia last Sunday.

Instead, McKee will team with Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele in an attempt to move the ball against a competent Panthers defense.

McKee will likely have longtime offensive lineman Landon Dickerson back, as the former Pro Bowler is set to return from a bone bruise in his right knee.

He'll also have star receiver DeVonta Smith back, who missed the last two contests. He'll pair with a resurgent Darius Cooper and the also recently-returned Dallas Goedert to form what should be a decent passing attack.

Hurts, meanwhile, was expecting to play on Sunday and practiced through Wednesday as usual before receiving results of his updated scan.

Most Eagles players found out when McKee took the huddle for the team's walkthrough on Thursday that something was wrong. “We're just as blindsided as you guys," receiver Britain Covey told reporters.

“We didn’t think anything of it,” he added. “I saw him getting an ultrasound and was kind of confused. Like, ‘Why would they ultrasound a calf injury?’ And sure enough, I learned just when you guys did."

Covey, like all Philadelphia players, sympathizes with Hurts. “Feel bad for him because he’s been real active this week and talking with everyone about thoughts on the offense and what we can do to get us going. He’s just so dialed in. So, I feel bad, ’cause I know he wants to be out there," Covey said.