Full Breakdown
Jalen Hurts Out for the Season After Blood Clots Are Discovered in His Lungs
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, the 2025 Super Bowl LIX MVP, has been placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 NFL season. Medical examinations revealed a deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in his left leg that progressed to bilateral pulmonary emboli—blood clots lodged in both lungs. Treatment will consist of anticoagulation (blood-thinning medication) for a minimum of three months, during which time Hurts is prohibited from any contact football activity.
Background & Context
Hurts entered the 2026 campaign on a five-year, $255 million contract extension. After a calf injury in a late-September game, he reported the problem to the team’s medical staff. An ultrasound performed while the Eagles were in London identified a superficial clot in his left calf. Team doctors cleared him to start the Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but subsequent imaging showed the clot had migrated, prompting a revised diagnosis of DVT and pulmonary emboli.
Timeline
| Date (ledger) | Event |
|---|---|
| October 8 (occurred) | Hurts reports calf injury and begins treatment. |
| (date removed) | Ultrasound in London detects a superficial clot. |
| October 11 (occurred) | Hurts starts and completes the game against the Jaguars (19-17 loss). |
| October 14 (occurred) | Follow-up ultrasound shows “small movement” in the clot. |
| October 15 (scheduled) | Team announces Hurts will sit out the upcoming game against the Carolina Panthers. |
| October 16 (occurred) | Hurts is placed on injured reserve. |
| October 19 (scheduled) | Joint statement from the Eagles and agent Nicole Lynn reveals DVT and bilateral pulmonary emboli. |
| October 26 (scheduled) | Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys without Hurts. |
Official Statements & Responses
The joint statement projected a “very good” prognosis, noting that Hurts will remain active around the team while on blood thinners and that “no long-term effects” are expected.
Head coach Nick Sirianni emphasized reliance on the medical staff, saying, “The health of our players is always at the forefront of our mind.” He declined to provide further medical details, citing privacy.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Sleep recommendation: Early reports claimed Hurts was instructed not to sleep before the London game, leading to an estimated 36-hour wakefulness. Later, Lynn clarified that Hurts did sleep after rejoining the team, and Tom Pelissero reported that the Eagles provided a room for him at the stadium.
- Clot progression: Initial diagnosis described the clot as “provoked” and low-risk, yet follow-up imaging revealed migration to the lungs. The precise timeline of this progression remains unclear.
What’s Next
The Eagles will open their Week 8 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on October 26 without Hurts. Medical staff will continue monitoring his response to anticoagulation therapy, and a definitive return date will depend on the resolution of the clots and clearance from physicians. In the meantime, the organization must navigate the season’s remainder with a reshaped quarterback roster and lingering uncertainty surrounding Hurts’ long-term health.