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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, a condition involving multiple blood clots in his lungs. The diagnosis came shortly after Hurts played an entire NFL international game in London despite previously testing positive for a superficial clot in his calf.
Sequence of Events Surrounding the Diagnosis
The issue originated on Oct. 4 when another player stepped on Hurts’ left calf during Philadelphia’s defeat against the Los Angeles Rams, though he completed the game. He first reported discomfort to team medical staff on Oct. 8. After practicing fully and receiving treatment on Thursday and Friday, he traveled with the team to the United Kingdom.
Upon arriving in London on Oct. 10, Hurts visited the Cleveland Clinic for an ultrasound that revealed a superficial blood clot in his calf. Medical professionals cleared him to play, and he returned to the team hotel around 3 a.m. before playing the full game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 11. Cleared for the transatlantic flight home that evening, he was advised to undergo a follow-up ultrasound within 72 hours.
A subsequent scan on Oct. 14 showed the clot had shifted, leading to his exclusion from the next game. On Oct. 19, a joint statement from the Eagles and Hurts’ agent confirmed that further tests detected blood clots in both of his lungs. Hurts is undergoing treatment with blood-thinning medication and is expected to achieve a full recovery, though he will miss the rest of the campaign.
Medical Care and League Protocol Scrutiny
The decision to allow Hurts to play and fly has drawn scrutiny regarding NFL medical protocols. Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer who arranged Hurts’ evaluation in London, explained that while the league maintains protocols for concussions, extreme heat, and emergency situations, no specific protocol exists for blood clots. Sills defended the response as “incredibly conservative” and expressed complete confidence in how the Eagles managed the situation.
“I don’t think you can take that outcome and say there was something flawed about the process. Sometimes in medicine we do all the right things and other things develop… but we have a committee that looks at all these cases,” Sills stated.
The NFL Players Association initially called for an investigation after learning the league did not plan to review the matter. However, the NFL and NFLPA later issued a joint statement announcing they are “working together to review the matter.”
Dr. Niko Mihic, chief medical officer for Real Madrid and local medical coordinator for the NFL’s upcoming game in Madrid on Nov. 8, told BBC Sport that blood clots among professional athletes are “not that common” and require individual medical assessment regarding travel and activity. “It’s not as simple as some people think,” said Dr Mihic. “There’s an amount of judgement that goes into this. It’s like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, but then you make your call.”
Impact on Hurts, the Eagles, and International Games
The incident highlights ongoing player safety concerns surrounding the NFL’s international series, which features a record nine games this season and long-term plans to reach 16 per year. Executive director of the NFLPA JC Tretter stated that “the goal has to be growing the game while maintaining the standards our players deserve,” pointing to existing player concerns over long travel times and playing surface conditions abroad.
For the 28-year-old quarterback and 2025 Super Bowl MVP, the condition carries ongoing health considerations. “The worst risk factor for recurrent embolisms is having had one previously,” said Dr Mihic.
Without Hurts, Philadelphia faces severe on-field challenges. Replacement quarterback Tanner McKee played in a 38-21 home defeat to the Dallas Cowboys, marking the franchise’s fifth consecutive loss and their longest losing streak under head coach Nick Sirianni. With the NFL trade deadline two weeks away, the Eagles could look to make moves or begin a broader roster rebuild.
