The NFL concluded the process to clear Hurts for Week 5 in London was handled appropriately
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3 min read
The Philadelphia Eagles will not face any punishment from the NFL regarding how they handled Jalen Hurts‘ medical situation, according to The Athletic. On Monday, the team announced that Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the 2026 season after blood clots were discovered in his lungs.
The league has reportedly concluded that the process, which led to Hurts being cleared to play in Week 5 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars in London with a superficial blood clot, “was handled appropriately.” The league will not levy any punishment on the franchise for how it handled its medical process, or for Hurts not being given an injury designation ahead of the game.
On Thursday of last week, the Eagles issued a statement saying that a superficial blood clot in Hurts’ calf experienced movement, leading the team to rule him out for their Week 6 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The Eagles also revealed that the NFL was made aware of the situation last week. It was the first of several confusing developments that led to more questions than answers.
Just days after Hurts’ blood clot diagnosis became public, it was reported that the team did not plan to place him on injured reserve. Hours later, Hurts was being placed on injured reserve. Then came the bombshell on Monday, when a follow-up scan revealed Hurts’ superficial vein thrombosis had developed into deep vein thrombosis, including “bilateral pulmonary emboli,” meaning blood clots were now in both of Hurts’ lungs.
It’s not exactly clear why Hurts was allowed to play a football game and take a long international flight with a superficial blood clot, or whether the Eagles’ decisions made his situation more serious. But the NFL has concluded that the team took the appropriate steps in handling the issue.
Jonathan Jones offered additional reporting to help clear up some misconceptions about this wild story.
Was Hurts forced to stay awake in London?
There was a report that Hurts was told by doctors not to sleep as a precaution due to his blood clot, so he didn’t sleep for 36 hours before playing against the Jaguars. This report was hard to believe for more reasons than one. Tom Pelissero eventually walked back this reporting, saying Hurts’ agent clarified that while the quarterback was up until early Sunday morning being evaluated at a hospital, he was able to sleep before the game.
According to The Athletic, Eagles players and personnel were advised ahead of their London trip to try to stay awake to remain on Eastern time. Hurts was not told to stay awake because of his medical condition. He returned to the team hotel around 2:45 a.m. local time on Sunday and slept until around 10 a.m. Hurts also took a nap at the stadium before kickoff.
Blood clot timeline
Saturday, Oct. 10: Superficial blood clot discovered in Hurts’ calf during a visit to the Cleveland Clinic in London following a team walk-through.
Wednesday, Oct. 14: Follow-up appointment in Philly reveals superficial blood clot had moved, causing Eagles to shut down Hurts indefinitely. He undergoes further testing.
Monday, Oct. 19: Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, issue a joint statement laying out the updated diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. Here’s the full statement:
“Over the last few days, Jalen Hurts has received comprehensive medical evaluations by physician experts. In the interest of transparency, we are providing additional information on the diagnosis and treatment plan related to his condition.
“Jalen was initially diagnosed by specialists in London with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis. 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”). During this time, he will not be allowed to participate in any contact activities, including football.
“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.”
