By: Malachi Morton
The Philadelphia Eagles are dealing with a serious situation involving star quarterback Jalen Hurts after he was diagnosed with blood clots in his leg and lungs. What first appeared to be a calf injury has become a much bigger concern for the organization. According to NFL Network reporting on October 19, Hurts is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season, although the Eagles have not announced a definitive return date. Questions are also being raised about how his medical condition was handled before he played against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. With Philadelphia already struggling, losing its starting quarterback is another setback. But the biggest concern right now is his health.
The situation started on October 4 when the Eagles played the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field. During the game, Hurts was cleated in his left calf but continued playing and finished the game. Philadelphia lost 24-20, and at the time, the injury did not seem likely to keep Hurts off the field. According to a statement released by the Eagles on October 15, Hurts did not report the injury to the team’s medical staff until October 8, four days after the game. According to the team’s account, he continued practicing and reported the injury to medical staff after practice on October 8, when he received an initial evaluation for his calf.
On October 9, Hurts was listed on the Eagles’ injury report with a calf injury but still participated fully in practice. The team was preparing to travel to London for its matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and his full practice participation and injury designation had not publicly indicated that he would miss the game. However, things started to change after the Eagles arrived in London. According to the Eagles’ account of the medical timeline, on October 10, Hurts underwent an ultrasound that revealed a superficial blood clot in his left calf. Following that initial diagnosis, the Eagles’ medical staff and doctors in London determined that Hurts could safely play in the game. The team also planned for him to receive another ultrasound after returning to Philadelphia. These details reflect the Eagles’ account of the medical evaluations and decisions, rather than independently reviewed medical records.
What makes this situation even more concerning is that Hurts received medical attention at a hospital in London before the game. Because the hospital visit took place before the game, questions arose about whether he had enough time to rest. Reports about Hurts’ rest before the game differed. According to Associated Press reporting on October 21, NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Miller disputed reports that Hurts had remained awake for more than 30 hours, saying the quarterback returned to his hotel and slept approximately seven or eight hours. Other reporting raised questions about how much rest Hurts actually received. His precise sleep duration has not been independently established in the publicly available accounts. Even with everything going on, Hurts still played against Jacksonville on October 11. The Eagles lost 19-17, with Hurts completing 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards and one touchdown. Looking back at the situation, questions remain about whether Hurts should have played, even though specialists had cleared him to play with the initial superficial clot diagnosis.
After returning from London, Hurts continued receiving treatment and practiced with the team on October 14. According to the Eagles’ October 15 statement, another ultrasound later that evening revealed movement in the small blood clot, prompting further concern. This finding was reported by the team and has not been independently established through access to the underlying medical records. The following day, the Eagles announced that Hurts would miss their upcoming game against the Carolina Panthers while doctors determined the next steps for treatment. At first, it seemed like Hurts might only miss a few games, but on October 17, the Eagles placed him on injured reserve, meaning he would have to miss at least four games.
The situation became even more serious on October 19 when the Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, released a joint statement announcing that further medical evaluations revealed deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. Deep vein thrombosis happens when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg, while pulmonary emboli occur when blood clots block blood vessels in the lungs. These conditions can become life-threatening if they are not treated properly. According to the statement, Hurts was clinically stable and expected to make a full recovery without long-term effects. However, he would need to take blood-thinning medication and would not be able to participate in contact football activities during treatment. Any return to contact football depends on Hurts completing the necessary treatment, no longer requiring blood thinners and receiving medical clearance. There is no guaranteed timetable. The joint statement describes the updated diagnosis and expected recovery, but the publicly available information does not independently establish the medical circumstances that led from the initial diagnosis to the later findings.
Following the announcement, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni faced several questions about how the organization handled Hurts’ injury. During his October 19 press conference, Sirianni defended the team’s medical staff and explained that he trusts the doctors and medical professionals when it comes to making decisions about players’ health. He made it clear that he believes the medical staff followed the proper procedures. However, the biggest question surrounding the situation is why Hurts was allowed to play against Jacksonville after the team knew he had a blood clot. Although the doctors initially cleared him, the later diagnosis has led to questions about whether the initial medical judgment was sufficiently cautious. The sequence of events alone does not establish that playing caused his condition to worsen.
The NFL Players Association initially called for an investigation into the decisions made before the London game. At the league’s fall meetings on October 21, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL had reviewed the medical protocols and believed they had been followed. Goodell also said the league welcomed an NFLPA review. His statements represented the league’s assessment at that time, rather than the findings of an independent investigation. The situation developed further on October 25, when the NFL and NFLPA announced they were working together to review how Hurts’ diagnosis was handled. The announcement did not report findings of wrongdoing or establish a violation of medical protocols. The review’s eventual findings, if any, cannot be assumed from the announcement.
The NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, also defended the Eagles’ handling of the situation. According to the Associated Press, Sills defended the team’s medical staff during remarks preceding Goodell’s October 21 comments. Sills explained that medical decisions involving blood clots depend on several factors, including the patient’s condition and the location of the clot. He expressed confidence in the doctors who evaluated Hurts and said the medical staff had taken a cautious approach. The NFL also explained that its officials had been in communication with the Eagles’ medical staff and doctors in London. Those comments represent the league’s position before the joint review announced October 25. They should not be interpreted as an independent determination that every medical decision was appropriate.
With Hurts unavailable, the Eagles now have to figure out how to move forward for the rest of the season. Backup quarterback Tanner McKee took over as the starter and played against the Carolina Panthers on October 18. McKee completed 26 of 45 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown, but the Eagles lost 25-14, extending their losing streak to four games. Philadelphia also suffered a 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on October 26, adding another setback to an already difficult season. Hurts’ absence leaves McKee and the rest of the offense facing a difficult stretch.
For Eagles fans across Philadelphia and South Jersey, this is bigger than a frustrating season. I think it is fair to ask whether the decision to clear Hurts for the Jacksonville game was the right one, while recognizing that the specialists had initially diagnosed a superficial clot and cleared him to play. Later tests identified deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli, but there is no established evidence that his participation caused that progression. The NFL and NFLPA’s joint review may help clarify the medical decision-making without assuming the outcome.
Seeing Hurts sidelined is disappointing, especially with the Eagles struggling and Tanner McKee now leading the offense. But winning football games cannot be the priority over a player’s recovery. Hurts needs time to complete treatment and receive clearance before anyone can responsibly talk about his return.
The Eagles still have a season to play, and the joint review may answer questions about how this situation was handled. For now, what matters most is that Hurts is stable and getting treatment. Football is bigger than wins and losses. No matter who the players are, whether people love them or hate them, the lives of our athletes matter more than the sports we love.
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This article was produced as part of Follow South Jersey’s student journalism program, which provides aspiring journalists with practical experience in professional news reporting and writing.
