Following the Philadelphia Eagles’ decision to place Jalen Hurts on injured reserve over the weekend, the team, along with his agent, issued a joint statement regarding his health on Monday, indicating that the quarterback is experiencing deep vein thrombosis in addition to bilateral pulmonary emboli.
While the organization was aware of and reported the blood clot in Hurts’ leg, the bilateral pulmonary emboli represents a new complication for the quarterback. Bilateral pulmonary emboli entail the presence of multiple blood clots within the lungs.
As a result of this diagnosis, Hurts will be put on blood thinners and will not be able to engage in football activities until he has completely recovered. The prognosis for Hurts is described as “very good,” and he is anticipated to achieve a “full recovery,” according to the joint statement.
“Over recent days, Jalen Hurts has undergone extensive medical evaluations by leading physicians. For the sake of transparency, we are sharing further details regarding the diagnosis and treatment strategy concerning his condition.
“Initially, specialists in London diagnosed Jalen with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis. However, after additional tests and monitoring, the current diagnosis has been updated to deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. He is clinically stable and does not face any major functional limitations. His treatment will primarily focus on anticoagulation [i.e. “blood thinners”]. During this period, he will be prohibited from participating in any contact activities, including football.
“Jalen’s recovery is progressing very well, and we expect a complete recovery. We believe he will have the chance to return to contact football activities once he is off the blood thinners. In the meantime, he will stay active with the team and maintain his conditioning. Importantly, we do not foresee any long-term effects resulting from this condition.
“Our thoughts are with Jalen, and we are looking forward to seeing him recover strongly.”
While no specific timeline for Hurts’ recovery was provided in the statement, various reports have indicated that he is likely to miss the remainder of the 2026 NFL season.
The Eagles initially identified a blood clot in Hurts’ leg before the team’s Week 5 match in London. At that point, the team decided Hurts could participate in the game, albeit with substantial restrictions. Due to this condition, doctors reportedly advised Hurts against sleeping as a precaution. As a result, he was awake for 36 hours leading up to the game. Hurts passed for 220 yards and one touchdown in the 19-17 defeat.
Hurts was allowed to practice freely the following Wednesday, but a subsequent ultrasound indicated “movement in the small blood clot.” Consequently, he was ruled out for Week 6.
With Hurts unavailable, the Eagles called upon Tanner McKee in Week 6. McKee completed 26 of 45 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown in the team’s 25-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers, marking his third start in the NFL.
It is expected that McKee will assume the role of starting quarterback for the team as long as Hurts remains out of action.
After suffering four consecutive losses, the Eagles find themselves at 2-4 ahead of Week 7. Overcoming this challenging situation could be tough for McKee, particularly if superstar running back Saquon Barkley continues to be sidelined with a hamstring injury. Barkley has already sat out for two games due to this issue.
