The key facts

  • Hurts has been placed on injured reserve after a calf blood clot and clots in his lungs; his season is expected to be over.
  • The NFLPA is demanding a full investigation, stating the league previously said it had no plans to review the case.
  • NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills said he has full confidence in the Eagles' medical staff.

The Hurts Situation

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has been placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss the remainder of the season after blood clots were found in his lungs — following a previously detected blood clot in his left calf. The club and the player's agent said he has deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary embolism. Hurts, who led Philadelphia to a Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last year, notified the team's medical staff of the problem after his leg was stepped on during a practice in London. He was diagnosed with a superficial blood clot in his calf, played against Jacksonville in London, and after the flight home additional examinations revealed blood clots in his lungs.

The Union's Position

The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) on Tuesday called for an investigation into the medical care provided to Hurts. 'The NFLPA is not aware of any league investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts,' the union said in a statement. According to the union, the league previously said it did not plan to review the care provided. 'Before drawing conclusions about how this situation was handled, a full investigation into what happened is necessary. Fact-finding is essential so that players continue to receive the highest level of care and protection,' the NFLPA added.

The League's Response

NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said Tuesday at the league meetings in New York that he could not discuss the details of Hurts' case due to medical confidentiality, but voiced support for the Eagles and the actions taken. 'I have enormous confidence in the Philadelphia Eagles medical staff,' Sills said, noting that team physicians are not influenced by coaches, owners or management. 'That simply does not happen. There is no physician who takes direction from a football, non-medical person,' he emphasized. According to him, the medical staff acted with maximum caution, and the idea that anything matters more than the patient's health is 'nonsense'.

No Punishment

According to The Athletic, the league is not punishing the Eagles for how the Hurts case was handled. The union, meanwhile, wants to obtain more information about the situation.