Jalen Hurts is out for the next three months as he recovers from a more serious health issue than previously believed.
In a detailed statement, the Eagles explained that Hurts was initially diagnosed with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis, though further testing revealed that he has a deep vein thrombosis as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli.
As a result of the multiple blood clots that have been found in his lungs, Hurts will be out until mid-January as he requires more significant care than previously known.
Jalen Hurts was diagnosed with a blood clot in his calf in London, but further tests revealed a more serious diagnosis. AP Photo/Alastair Grant
“Jalen was initially diagnosed by specialists in London with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis,” the team said in a statement. “After further testing and monitoring, the current diagnosis is a deep vein thrombosis, as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli. He is clinically stable and has no significant functional limitations. His treatment should only involve anticoagulation [i.e., ‘blood thinners’].”
Hurts had previously been placed on IR, which carries a minimum absence of four weeks.
“During this time, he will not be allowed to participate in any contact activities, including football,” the statement continues. “Jalen’s prognosis is very good, and we expect a full recovery. We anticipate that he will have the opportunity to resume contact football activities when off the blood thinners. In the meantime, he will remain active around the team and continue to condition. More importantly, we anticipate that he will have no long-term effects.”
Hurts’ NFL season ends in October as he focuses on his health going forward, his last game of the season being a loss to the Jaguars in London.
ESPN.com reported that Hurts was in the hospital until 4 a.m. the night before the game and it was deemed too risky for him to sleep. The QB’s agent, Nicole Lynn, told Netflix’s Tom Pelissero that Hurts was given space to sleep at the stadium and felt rested enough to play.
Jalen Hurts is out for the rest of the regular season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
That hasn’t stopped the questions about why Hurts was allowed to play — or fly home despite the diagnosis.
“The health of our players is always at the forefront of our minds, and we leave that up to the medical experts, but we always, always care deeply about our players,” coach Nick Sirianni told reporters Monday.
“I’m not a medical expert. … I lean on our medical experts in every situation. I have full trust and full faith in them,” he continued. “I fully trust the people that are involved in helping us all make these decisions, and we have great people here. … I think I’ll put it this way: The same doctors and trainers that helped 21 of our 22 starters be available in the Super Bowl are the same guys today that deeply care about our guys to help them.”
In his place, Tanner McKee is starting at quarterback for the Eagles.
McKee had an uneven performance Sunday as the Panthers downed Philadelphia 25-14. A sixth-round pick out of Stanford in 2023, McKee was 26-for-45 passing for 215 yards and a touchdown in the loss.