Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts Faces Long Absence Due to Blood Clots

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, renowned as a Super Bowl champion and a leading NFL star, confronts an extended absence from the field due to blood clots in his lungs. His team now faces scrutiny over his medical treatment.

On Monday, Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, alongside the Eagles, stated that his prognosis is promising, and a complete recovery is expected. Although this condition poses life-threatening risks, the team indicates that Hurts might be sidelined for the remainder of the season. Previously, he was cleared to play in London after a clot was discovered in his leg, contributing 222 yards and a touchdown. Despite this, the Eagles faced a defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars, 19-17.

An NFL insider reports that Hurts was diagnosed with a superficial blood clot in his left calf a day before, leading doctors to keep him awake overnight. This resulted in the quarterback missing roughly 36 hours of sleep. Post-hospital discharge, Hurts had a brief rest period before the Jaguars matchup.

Since then, his diagnosis has deteriorated. The Eagles and his agent now reveal Hurts is experiencing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and bilateral pulmonary emboli, with clots in his left leg and both lungs.

Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a clot forms in deep veins, typically in the lower extremities, as per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A pulmonary embolism signifies the clot detaching and moving to the lungs, posing serious health risks, the CDC notes.

“You have a clot in your leg. The problem is it can travel up the veins and go to your heart, and from there, go to your lungs, and block the blood vessels in your lungs. And you get things called pulmonary emboli. That’s very serious,” said CBS News’ chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook, not involved in Hurts’ treatment, on “CBS Mornings.”

Regarding its potential to be career-ending, Dr. LaPook stated, “It’s too soon to know.” Standard treatment involves a three-month regimen of blood thinners followed by assessment. They closely monitor Hurts’ condition, possibly extending treatment and evaluating clotting risk factors.

Revelations about Hurts’ diagnosis have sparked criticism towards the Eagles’ medical team. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni didn’t clarify Hurts’ clearance to play in London or the subsequent U.S. return with the team.

“I’m not a medical expert. I lean on our guys in all those situations, right? I’m a football coach,” Sirianni said. “I lean on our medical experts in every situation. I have full trust and full faith in them.”

Concerns arise regarding whether his flights to and from London compounded his condition. Dr. LaPook highlights potential issues with flying.

“In flying, you can get dehydrated, you’re not moving around a lot, so your blood doesn’t return to your heart as well,” stated Dr. LaPook. “When he got there, they did a test, and they found this superficial thrombophlebitis. They cleared him to play. He ended up playing, and then right after the game, he flew back.”

Dr. LaPook noted the primary concern was flying, rather than Hurts’ lack of sleep. “Well, the bigger point to me is not the not sleeping, it’s the fact that he had a flight there, a flight back within a few days. That increases the risk of blood clot in the first place. We often advise travelers to walk around on flights and consider compression stockings.”

The CDC warns “extended periods of limited mobility” inherent to long-distance travel heighten a traveler’s VTE risk. An association between VTE and flying traces back to the 1950s, increasing concerns alongside common long-distance air travel.

Guidelines from various bodies recommend longer rest before flying post-DVT diagnosis compared to Hurts’ timeline. The International Air Transport Association advises at least a five-day wait if stable, whereas the British Thoracic Society suggests a two-week wait for DVT or PE recovery.

“Jalen Hurts has received comprehensive medical evaluations by physician experts,” stated the Eagles and Hurts’ agent, announcing his extended absence. The Eagles anticipated monitoring his recovery on blood thinners for three months.

“We anticipate that he will have the opportunity to resume contact football activities when off the blood thinners,” they declared, adding that he remains active with the team, maintaining conditioning and, crucially, preventing long-term effects.

“We are thinking of Jalen and looking forward to a strong recovery.”