6 questions on how Eagles handled Jalen Hurts' blood clots, what's next?
· Yahoo Sports
PHILADELPHIA − There are many questions surrounding Jalen Hurts' blood clots and how the Eagles handled the ordeal, and that includes the vague responses from head coach Nick Sirianni on Oct. 19.
Sirianni's press conference came hours after the Eagles, in conjunction with Hurts' agent, Nicole Lynne, released a statement saying that the superficial blood clot in Hurts' thigh had spread to both lungs, and that Hurts would begin a regimen of blood thinners.
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While the statement did not give a timeline, Hurts is believed to be out for the rest of the season. Hurts is not allowed to participate in contact sports while on blood thinners. That could last for three months or more.
Here are some questions surrounding Hurts' diagnosis, how the Eagles handled the process, and what it means going forward:
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Why was Jalen Hurts allowed to fly to London, play against the Jaguars?
According to the Eagles' first statement on Oct. 15, the blood clot wasn't discovered until after the team arrived in London on Oct. 10, the day before the game against the Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In the statement, Hurts went to the trainers after the Oct. 8 practice at the team's Jefferson Health Training Complex to to treat a calf issue. Hurts had told the trainers that he had been cleated there against the Rams on Oct. 4.
Hurts was listed on the team's practice report on Oct. 9 with a calf issue, but was a full participant in practice.
After practice, the team flew overnight to London and held a walkthrough practice there on Oct. 10.
After practice, Hurts was taken to a London hospital and had an ultrasound performed. The results showed a superficial blood clot. According to the Oct. 15 statement, the Eagles' medical staff, along with doctors in London, determined that "mobility and activity were important, and that Jalen could safely play."
Hurts played the entire game in the Eagles' 19-17 loss. The Eagles' statement said a follow-up ultrasound was recommended within 72 hours, and that took place after practice on Oct. 14. The next day, the Eagles released their statement saying that the blood clot had "moved," and that Hurts would be ruled out for the game against the Panthers on Oct. 18.
On Oct. 17, the Eagles placed Hurts on injured reserve, meaning that he would have to miss at least four games. They did not add any details.
On Oct. 19, the Eagles and Lynn released the second statement.
Why was Hurts told not to sleep before the game vs Jaguars?
After the Eagles released their statement on Oct. 19, ESPN reported that Hurts was in a London clinic until 4 a.m. on Oct. 11, less than 10 hours before start of the game against the Jaguars. ESPN reported that Hurts was told not to sleep.
The Ringer's Tom Pelissaro later reported that he spoke to Lynn, and Lynn told him that Hurts was in fact instructed to sleep after leaving the hospital in the early morning hours. He returned to the team hotel and did so. In addition, the Eagles set aside a room at the stadium for Hurts to rest before the game.
Hurts did not take part in pregame warmups and jogged onto the field just before the start of the game.
On Oct. 14, Hurts admitted that he didn't come out for warmups because he was "trying to rest."
Why was Jalen Hurts allowed to fly home after the game?
At that time, Hurts was dealing with a superficial blood clot. Since movement and activity are important, it's likely that Hurts was told to move around on the flight home. It's also important to wear compression socks to further encourage blood flow, and it's likely Hurts was doing that as well.
Sirianni, in his Oct. 19 press conference, was asked why Hurts was allowed to fly home from London, and the exchange got testy:
"I'm not a medical expert," Sirianni said. "We get medical information from our guys, and we always put the players' health first and foremost in every situation, and that's where we were there."
Q. Were you briefed by the medical team before you did this press conference on why he was permitted to fly despite the blood clot?
Sirianni: "Yeah, guys, I talk to them a lot ..."
Q. Can you give us the information? As a spokesman of the team, we're just hoping you give us some information for the public. Thank you.
Sirianni: "Guys, I've addressed this. I've talked to you guys about this. Again, the medical experts are there, and I think I've answered this question multiple times. We put out a statement for you guys to [have], put out multiple statements for you guys to [have]. I told you guys that last week that I was going to leave it at that with where we were on that because we put out a detailed statement for you guys to hear and to understand."
Is the NFL looking into what transpired with Jalen Hurts?
The Athletic reported that the NFL determined that Hurts getting clearance to play against the Jaguars “was handled appropriately," and that the NFL will not punish the Eagles for how they handled the process.
The NFL’s chief medical officer Allen Sills said the Eagles followed the correct procedures with regards to Hurts’ care.
The fact that the Eagles' statements were released in conjunction with Hurts' agent would indicate that both Hurts and the team are on the same page regarding treatment and medical advice.
But the NFL players association released a statement on the night of Oct. 20 that a full investigation must be undertaken.
“The NFLPA is not aware of any NFL investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts. In fact, the league previously informed the union that it did not plan to review the care he received.
“Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred. Determining the facts is essential to ensuring players receive the highest level of care and protection going forward.”
In other words, there could be more to come.
Can Jalen Hurts make a full recovery?
According to the Eagles' second statement, Hurts can be around the team and work out, condition and so forth while on the blood thinners.
"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 ... More importantly, we anticipate that he will have no long-term effects."
But that is not guaranteed.
Some athletes have continued their careers after being treated for blood clots without issue. That has included the Phillies' Zack Wheeler, who was diagnosed with a blood clot in his shoulder in August of 2025, and former Penn State star and Delaware native Devon Still.
Others have not.
NBA star Chris Bosh was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs in Feb. 2015 while playing for the Miami Heat. He missed the rest of that season. He returned for the start of the 2015-16 season, but another clot was found in his leg in Feb. 2016. Bosh missed the rest of that season, and failed a physical to start the 2016-17 season.
He never played again. Bosh revealed another pulmonary embolism in Jan. 2026 that nearly killed him.
Can the Eagles save their season without Jalen Hurts?
We're about to find out. The Eagles (2-4) had lost three straight games when Hurts was in the lineup, and their offense was the worst in the NFL during that stretch.
Tanner McKee replaced Hurts against the Panthers on Oct. 18, and things didn't get any better. The Eagles lost their fourth straight game, 25-14. The offense produced just 222 yards.
The Eagles had suffered a bunch of injuries to key offensive players like left guard Landon Dickerson, running back Saquon Barkley and his two backups, wide receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert. All of them have missed at least two games.
In addition, right tackle Lane Johnson abruptly retired and center/left guard Cam Jurgens was traded.
Now, Hurts is out for the season.
All of this was occurring as the Eagles were learning a new offense under first-year coordinator Sean Mannion. That hasn't gone well, either, although Sirianni said he has full confidence in the 34-year-old to turn the offense around.
"I have a high confidence level in everybody in this building," Sirianni said. "That's why I hired him, the position coaches, the players. Right now, we're in a rough spot, as we know. It is about controlling the things that you can control in this moment and figuring out what the next steps are."
Then again, the Eagles, even at 2-4, are just 1 ½ games out of first place in the NFC East. And their next three games are against division opponents, beginning on Oct. 26 against the Cowboys.
It should also be noted that none of the four NFC East teams have won a game in the last two weeks, the first time that has ever happened.
So yes, the Eagles still have a good chance to win the division and make the playoffs for a sixth straight season. And there's also a good chance that everything can continue to unravel.
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 6 questions on how Eagles handled Jalen Hurts' blood clots, what's next?
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