The Philadelphia Eagles announced their star quarterback, Jalen Hurts, will be out for the remainder of the season after he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli ahead of the Eagle’s Week 6 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
The injury stems from an incident in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams when Hurts was cleated on his calf which “provoked” the blood clot.
The Eagles were in London for the NFL’s International Series game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 10 where Hurts consulted with specialists who detected the blood clot in his left calf through ultrasound. Despite the diagnosis, Hurts was cleared to play against the Jaguars on Oct. 11, throwing 220 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles dramatically lost 19-17 and fell to 2-3 for the season.
A follow-up ultrasound within 72 hours cleared Hurts to fly home, and initial reports stated that Hurts lost 36 hours of sleep due to a risk of immobility. However, another ultrasound on Oct. 14 showed the clot had moved, changing the diagnosis to deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in both of his lungs.
The Eagles released a statement on Oct. 19 declaring the quarterback as “clinically stable,” with no significant functional limitations. His treatment will involve blood thinners.
The team expects him to make a full recovery and anticipates “that he will have the opportunity to resume contact football activities when off the blood thinners.”
The NFL and the NFL Players Association released a joint statement reiterating they are actively “working together to review the matter” concerning Hurts, the care he received and why he was cleared to play the London game.
For the Eagles, Tanner McKee started the Week 6 game in Hurts’ place throwing 26 out of 45 on 212-yards and a touchdown, but the Eagles lost 25-14. The Eagles signed quarterback Joe Milton off the Dallas Cowboys practice squad days before Hurts was rendered inactive for the season.
McKee is the 26-year-old backup quarterback who is currently in his fourth season with the Eagles since being drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft.
He started just three times including Week 6 against the Panthers with a 1-2 record to his name.
The Eagles quarterback department also consists of Cole Payton, a fifth-round rookie from North Dakota State yet to play an NFL snap, and Milton, known for his cannon arm and elite athleticism.Andy Dalton started the season as backup to Hurts and appeared for one drive against the Chicago Bears in Week 3 but was released on Oct. 9.
The Eagles began the season as favorites for a deep playoff run, but now the outlook for the team has changed drastically without Hurts. They are on a four-game losing streak and currently trail the Washington Commanders in the NFC East.
