Jalen Hurts set to miss rest of season after blood clots reach lungs

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is set to miss the remainder of the season after additional testing found that blood clots had travelled from his leg to his lungs. The Guardian, citing a team announcement on Monday, reported that the 28-year-old had been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. The Eagles said his condition was stable and that they expected a full recovery without long-term effects.

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Hurts will be treated with blood thinners and cannot participate in contact activities while taking them. The team said it anticipated he would have the opportunity to return to contact football once he was off that medication. In the meantime, the Eagles expect him to remain involved with the team and continue conditioning, while his playing role is interrupted by treatment.

The diagnosis follows examinations in England before Philadelphia's defeat by the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on 11 October. Specialists initially identified superficial clots in Hurts's left calf, according to the report. Subsequent testing found multiple clots in his lungs, changing the picture from the initial findings and prompting Monday's update on his health and availability.

The Guardian also cited NFL Network's Ian Rapoport as reporting that Hurts had remained in hospital until 4am before the London game and had been advised by doctors not to sleep as a precaution. On that account, he would have gone 36 hours without sleep by kick-off. That detail was attributed to Rapoport's reporting, separately from the Eagles' announcement about the diagnosis and treatment.

Tanner McKee has taken over at quarterback and started against the Carolina Panthers. He completed 26 of 45 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown in Philadelphia's 25-14 defeat. The Eagles are now 2-4 and have lost four consecutive games, their first run of four straight defeats since 2020, according to the Guardian's report.

Hurts has thrown for 933 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions this season. Before this diagnosis, he had not missed more than two games in any season since becoming Philadelphia's full-time starter in 2021. His extended absence now leaves McKee handling the starting role as the Eagles try to halt their losing streak, while the team's stated expectation remains that Hurts can recover without lasting effects.