The Philadelphia Eagles have lost their franchise quarterback for what is likely to be the remainder of this campaign. On Monday the club and agent Nicole Lynn disclosed that Jalen Hurts is suffering from a deep vein thrombosis, with clots having reached both of his lungs.
The good news comes first in that statement: Hurts is clinically stable, has no major physical limitations, and doctors expect a full recovery with no lasting effects. The catch is the treatment. He has to take blood thinners, and while he does, contact activity of any kind, football included, is ruled out. Reports by NFL Network and ESPN put that period at a minimum of three months.
The problem began with a stray cleat. Hurts was stepped on in the calf during the loss to the Los Angeles Rams on 4 October and mentioned it to the medical staff four days later. A scan in London on 10 October revealed a clot near the surface of the vein, yet the club and local specialists decided he could play against Jacksonville at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Philadelphia lost 19-17 with Hurts throwing 40 passes. Back home, another scan showed the clot had moved, and he was ruled out. Philadelphia moved him to the injured list at the weekend.
Head coach Nick Sirianni deflected questions about whether the team had handled the case correctly. He said that he is a football coach, not a physician, and trusts the club’s doctors completely.
On the field the outlook is bleak. Tanner McKee started in Sunday’s 25-14 home defeat by Carolina, and the Eagles are now 2-4, though still second in the NFC East. Hurts, the MVP of their Super Bowl win over Kansas City two seasons ago, had not sat out more than a couple of games in any year since taking over as starter in 2021.
