The league and the players union are reviewing the medical decisions that preceded the quarterback’s diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association have launched a joint inquiry into how the Philadelphia Eagles handled the medical care of quarterback Jalen Hurts following the discovery of his blood clots, Fox News reported. The joint investigation has started in earnest and has no set timetable for completion, according to an OutKick source.
How the condition developed
The health issues began after Hurts suffered an injury when he took a cleat to the calf against the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 4, Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer reported. Ahead of the Eagles’ Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Hurts underwent a medical evaluation on Oct. 10 at the Cleveland Clinic in London, a facility approved by both the league and the players union. Doctors diagnosed him with left calf superficial vein thrombosis. The clinic cleared Hurts to travel and play, and he started against the Jaguars on Oct. 11.
Hurts then flew back to the United States on the team plane with the rest of the Eagles. On the following Wednesday, the team took him in for another scan, which showed that the blood clot had traveled. Two days later, on Friday, Hurts obtained a third medical opinion in Boston. That doctor determined the clot had spread to his lungs, causing multiple pulmonary embolisms.
The Eagles placed Hurts on injured reserve on Oct. 19, announcing that he was placed on a blood thinner regimen to treat deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. Hurts cannot return to football until the clots are resolved and he stops taking blood thinners, a timeline expected to sideline him for the remainder of the regular season and potentially longer.
Questions facing the review
The NFLPA exercised its contractual right under the collective bargaining agreement to demand a full review of the situation. In a joint statement, the league and the union confirmed they “are working together to review the matter.” Glazer said the inquiry will examine whether medical personnel handled anything inappropriately and look for ways to improve care for players facing similar conditions.
The review is expected to focus on the timeline of medical decisions made before and after the London trip. Key issues include why the Eagles waited until after flying across the Atlantic to screen Hurts for blood clots, what specific information led doctors to clear him to play on Oct. 11, and why he was placed on the long return flight after being diagnosed with superficial clots. Investigators are also expected to examine the medical protocols used on the flight and whether the extended air travel caused the superficial clot to turn into deep vein thrombosis.
League defense and team silence
NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills publicly defended the team, stating that he has “complete confidence in the Eagles medical staff and their handling of this situation.” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league welcomed the union’s review, calling it part of the standard process, and maintained that protocols were followed. Goodell also expressed doubt that the flight to and from London caused the complications, saying he had not heard to date that international travel had any impact on the condition.
The Eagles organization has shared little information regarding the sequence of events leading up to the Oct. 19 announcement. Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni addressed reporters but declined to provide detailed medical explanations, saying he is not a physician. Neither general manager Howie Roseman nor members of the Eagles’ medical staff have been made available to answer questions about Hurts’ diagnosis and treatment.
