Jalen Hurts faces season absence as NFLPA seeks medical care investigation

The first public announcement concerned one game. On October 15, the Philadelphia Eagles said quarterback Jalen Hurts would miss their Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers because of a blood clot in his calf, NBC News reported.

The initial description was narrower than the diagnosis that followed. ESPN reported the team's announcement described a superficial blood clot. Later testing revealed clots in his lungs as well, changing both his treatment outlook and expectations for his season.

On October 16, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni offered little medical detail, focusing instead on his relationship with Hurts and concern for the quarterback, according to ESPN.

On October 17, the Eagles decided to place Hurts on injured reserve after consultations with numerous doctors and experts, sources told ESPN. At that stage, his absence was described as indefinite.

On October 19, the diagnosis became more extensive. Sky Sports reported that Hurts had deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli and was set to miss the rest of the 2026 season. NBC News reported that the team confirmed blood clots in his lungs and leg.

Attention also turned to his appearance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on October 11. Guardian Sport reported on October 19 that Hurts had played after the initial clot diagnosis and that Tanner McKee had taken over as the Eagles starter.

On October 20, the NFL said Philadelphia would not face discipline over its handling of the situation, NBC News reported, citing a league spokesperson. According to CBS Sports, the league concluded that the process used to clear Hurts for the London game had been handled appropriately.

On October 21, the NFLPA called for a "full investigation" into Hurts' medical care, ESPN reported. That followed NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills' defense of the process on Tuesday.

Hurts is clinically stable, and his treatment should involve only blood thinners, which rule him out of contact activities, according to Japan Times. The Eagles said he would not play while taking those medications, ABCNews.com reported.

The medical outlook is more encouraging than the football outlook. Hurts' agent and the Eagles said his "prognosis is very good, and we anticipate a full recovery," according to CBS Top Stories. Reports expect him to miss the rest of the season, but that is not a stated timetable for returning to play.

The immediate unresolved issue is the NFLPA's demand for an investigation. ESPN reported that call after the league defended the clearance process. The supplied coverage does not establish whether a separate investigation will take place.

For Philadelphia, McKee has taken over as starter, according to Guardian Sport. Hurts' eventual return remains a medical question, with no confirmed playing date in the coverage.