Players’ Union Demands A Full Investigation Into The Eagles’ Handling Of Jalen Hurts’s Blood Clots

Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve with deep vein thrombosis and blood clots in both lungs, and the NFL Players Association is demanding a full investigation into the medical care he received from the Philadelphia Eagles. The league says its own review found the care appropriate and that no one will be disciplined. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday that the protocols were followed — and that the league welcomes the inquiry the union is asking for.

The injury began on Sunday, October 4, when Hurts was cleated in the calf during the Eagles’ Week 4 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field. He did not report it for four days, practicing in full on the Wednesday and Thursday. He first reported the calf after practice on Thursday, October 8, received treatment, practiced in full again Friday, and was added to the practice report with a calf injury.

The team traveled to London. On Saturday, October 10, out of what was described as an abundance of caution, Hurts had an ultrasound — at Cleveland Clinic London, arranged with the Premier League’s chief medical officer, according to The Athletic. It found a superficial blood clot in his left calf. The Eagles and the London doctors cleared him to play, with a follow-up ultrasound recommended within 72 hours.

On Sunday, October 11, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Hurts played all 62 snaps against Jacksonville, completing 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown in a 19–17 loss. He had skipped warm-ups.

After the team came home, Hurts received treatment on the Monday and Tuesday and practiced in full on Wednesday, October 14. The follow-up ultrasound that night showed the clot had moved. On Thursday, October 15, the Eagles publicly announced the clot and ruled him out against Carolina. He was placed on injured reserve on Saturday, October 17.

On Monday, October 19, the Eagles and Hurts’s agent, Nicole Lynn, issued a joint statement with the diagnosis: deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli — clots in both lungs. “He is clinically stable and has no significant functional limitations,” the statement said. Hurts is on blood thinners and barred from contact. “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.” The statement gave no timetable.

The union’s statement came Tuesday night, October 20: “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.”

The league’s medical leadership defended the Eagles the same day. Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, said the league has “tremendous confidence in the Philadelphia Eagles’ medical staff” and called the team’s work “very conservative, very patient-focused and appropriately guarded at every step.” On the suggestion that team doctors would put a player at risk: “The notion that there’s external factors that any of our physicians would put a player in harm’s way — that’s nonsense.” Jeff Miller, the league’s executive vice president for health and safety, rebuked what he called “considerable and uninformed speculation.” A league source said an internal review had concluded the London clearance was handled appropriately, with no discipline. Goodell, at the league’s fall meetings on Wednesday: “The most important thing here is Jalen’s health, ultimately… I’m more worried about his health, ultimately, but the protocols were followed.” Of the union’s demand: “We welcome that. That’s part of our processes. That’s fine.”

One early report did not survive the week. Reports on Monday said doctors had advised Hurts to stay awake for some 36 hours around the London game to reduce clotting risk on the flight. The report was corrected the same day by its own reporter, after Lynn provided the actual account: Hurts slept roughly seven to seven and a half hours, including a nap at the stadium — matching the league’s figure of roughly seven to eight hours. He was not advised to stay awake.

Congress is now asking questions. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester wrote to Goodell on Wednesday requesting answers and a briefing for her office and members of the Senate HELP Committee. In the letter she disclosed that her husband Charles died at 52 from blood clots after an Achilles tear; she leads blood-clot legislation named for him.

On the field, backup Tanner McKee started against Carolina on October 18 and went 26-of-45 for 215 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions, sacked three times, in a 25–14 loss — the Eagles’ fourth straight, dropping them to 2–4. Head coach Nick Sirianni, asked about the medical questions on Thursday, declined: “Guys, I’m not going to go into any of that… I care deeply about Jalen, and I want his well-being, first and foremost. But really I’m here to talk about the Cowboys and our team and this week in practice.” Hurts has been at the team facility daily helping McKee prepare; he has not spoken publicly since the October 11 postgame.

The Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, October 26, at 8:15 p.m. Eastern, with McKee starting; both teams are 2–4. Running back Saquon Barkley, who returned to practice this week, is listed as questionable in Friday’s previews. In Paris on Friday, Aaron Rodgers was asked about Sills and answered: “The guy in charge of all things medical at the NFL office, he and I haven’t always seen eye-to-eye about things. So, I can’t say I’m real surprised.” Barkley, asked about online claims concerning Hurts, called much of it “a lot false,” adding: “Sometimes it’s bigger than football. My prayers go out to him.”