Andy Dalton Fantasy News Explained
Andy Dalton is the backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, and his fantasy news centers on a brief relief appearance in the team's 27-7 Monday Night Football loss to the Chicago Bears on September 29, 2026. Starter Jalen Hurts left the game after a hard hit out of bounds and was evaluated for a concussion, and Dalton entered only to throw an end-zone interception in the red zone. Unless Hurts misses time, Dalton carries no fantasy relevance outside the deepest of two-quarterback leagues.
What happened with Andy Dalton on Monday Night Football?
On September 29, 2026, the Philadelphia Eagles were beaten 27-7 by the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, and the game became Andy Dalton's headline moment only by circumstance. According to Yahoo Sports NFL and The Athletic NFL, Eagles starter Jalen Hurts left the loss briefly after a hard hit out of bounds and was evaluated for a concussion. That sent Dalton, the 38-year-old backup, onto the field in a relief role.
Dalton's most notable snap produced the wrong kind of result. The Athletic NFL reported that Dalton threw an end-zone interception during the drive that followed Hurts's medical check, and NBC ProFootballTalk described the same play as a red zone interception. Windy City Gridiron credited Dillon Thieneman's first NFL interception with coming at a critical moment for the Bears. For fantasy purposes, Dalton's stat line from this appearance offers nothing to chase.
The wider story of the night worked against the entire Philadelphia Eagles offense. Bleeding Green Nation called it a game of 'the good, the bad, and the ugly' and wrote that Philadelphia was 'bullied by Chicago again,' while Yahoo Sports NFL graded the Eagles by position after what it labeled an embarrassing loss. On the other sideline, Case Keenum started for the Bears, with Yahoo Sports NFL noting Caleb Williams watched from the sidelines, and Chicago's 27-7 win was the frame around Dalton's cameo.
Does Andy Dalton have fantasy value after this game?
The honest read is no, not on the evidence in this news cycle. Dalton is the backup on a Philadelphia Eagles team whose starting quarterback returned to the game after his concussion evaluation, per Yahoo Sports NFL's injury update. A relief appearance that ends in a red-zone interception does not change a depth chart, and no report in this cycle suggests any permanent change to the quarterback order.
The only scenario where Dalton enters fantasy consideration is an extended absence for Jalen Hurts. Even then, managers would be adding a 38-year-old backup whose most recent visible action included a costly turnover. NBC ProFootballTalk quoted Nick Sirianni saying of Hurts's medical check, "Doctors have to do their job." Monitor the follow-up reporting before making any roster move tied to Dalton.
For context on the player himself, Dalton entered the NFL in the 2011 draft, selected in the second round with the third pick of that round. That background explains why fantasy platforms treat him purely as a handcuff option rather than a streaming candidate.
How should fantasy managers handle the Eagles quarterback situation?
If you roster Jalen Hurts, the September 29, 2026 reporting gives reason for vigilance but not panic. Yahoo Sports NFL reported that Hurts returned to the game after the big hit, and no outlet in this cycle reported a confirmed injury absence beyond the in-game evaluation. The standard advice applies: check the practice reporting later in the week before setting a lineup that depends on him.
If you are in a two-quarterback or superflex format, Dalton is the name to know as the direct backup, since the Monday Night Football sequence confirmed he is the next man up for the Philadelphia Eagles. In single-quarterback leagues, he can stay on the waiver wire. The Chicago Bears defense that forced the messy night, meanwhile, is the unit that actually helped fantasy rosters in this game, holding the Eagles to 7 points in a 27-7 result.
Common questions
Why was Andy Dalton in the game for the Philadelphia Eagles?
- Dalton entered briefly on September 29, 2026 after starter Jalen Hurts took a hard hit out of bounds against the Chicago Bears and was evaluated for a concussion, per Yahoo Sports NFL and The Athletic NFL.
Did Andy Dalton throw an interception against the Bears?
- Yes. The Athletic NFL and NBC ProFootballTalk both reported that Dalton threw an end-zone interception in the red zone during his relief appearance, with Windy City Gridiron crediting Dillon Thieneman's first NFL interception.
Is Andy Dalton worth adding off the waiver wire?
- Only in two-quarterback or superflex leagues, and even then only if Jalen Hurts were to miss time. Reporting indicated Hurts returned after his concussion evaluation, so Dalton remains a backup without a path to a starting role.
How old is Andy Dalton?
- Dalton is 38 years old, with a birthdate of October 29, according to the player record updated in July 2026.
What was the final score of the Eagles-Bears game?
- The Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7 on Monday Night Football on September 29, 2026, as reported by NBC ProFootballTalk and Yahoo Sports NFL.