Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts played a game in London hours after being diagnosed with a superficial blood clot in his calf, only to be ruled out for the rest of the season days later when multiple clots were discovered in his lungs. The sequence has prompted a joint review by the NFL and the NFL Players Association and raised questions about player safety during international games.
Timeline of Events
On 4 October, Hurts suffered a calf injury during a loss to the Los Angeles Rams but finished the game. He first reported an issue to the team on 8 October and practiced fully that week. After the Eagles arrived in London on 10 October, an ultrasound at the Cleveland Clinic revealed a superficial vein thrombosis; he was cleared to play the next day. Hurts returned to the team hotel around 3 a.m. and started the 11 October game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, throwing for 220 yards and a touchdown in a 19-17 loss. A follow-up ultrasound on 14 October showed the clot had moved, and he was ruled out of the next game. On 19 October, a joint statement from the Eagles and Hurts' agent confirmed deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli — multiple blood clots in both lungs. He will begin blood-thinning treatment and is expected to make a full recovery but miss the remainder of the season.
NFL and Medical Response
NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills, who was in London for the game, arranged Hurts' evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic, an official NFL medical supplier for London games. Sills said the league does not have a specific protocol for blood-clot situations but described the handling as "incredibly conservative" and expressed "complete confidence" in the Eagles' process. The NFLPA initially called for a full investigation and noted the league had not planned to review the care; the two sides later issued a joint statement saying they are "working together to review the matter." Dr. Niko Mihic, Real Madrid's chief medical officer and the local medical coordinator for the NFL's upcoming Madrid game, said blood clots among athletes are "not that common" and that decisions about sleep, activity, and long-haul flights require case-by-case judgment.
Implications for Eagles and League
The Eagles, who have lost five straight games including a 38-21 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys on 19 October, lack an experienced backup quarterback behind Hurts. The situation adds to scrutiny over the NFL's expanding international schedule — nine games this season, with a goal of 16 per year — and the medical standards applied overseas. NFLPA executive director JC Tretter has emphasized that growth must maintain "the standards our players deserve." For Hurts, the 28-year-old 2025 Super Bowl MVP, the worst risk factor for recurrent embolisms is having had one previously, according to Dr. Mihic.
