FRISCO, Texas — News from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts excluded in week 6 with a superficial blood clot has shaken many NFL players, including rival Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
“It’s scary when you have things like that. Blood clots, you’re talking about someone’s life, especially with the plane ride and everything they took with them,” Prescott said. “Yeah, it’s scary. If you feel something, talk about it. I’m lucky to have (my personal physical therapist) Luke Miller. He takes care of things before me sometimes. I try to blow things up, and he says ‘no, no, let’s look at it. Let me check it better.’ I encourage people to be open about their bodies and learn more about their bodies.”
In a statement regarding the injury, the Eagles said Hurts went to the training room on Thursday, Oct. 8 after practice to receive treatment on his calf. Philadelphia underwent an ultrasound of his calf Saturday after the team flew to London for its Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and she detected a superficial blood clot. Working with doctors in London, the team’s medical staff decided that Hurts was safe to play. After a follow-up ultrasound, it was discovered that Hurts’ blood clot had moved, so the Eagles ruled him out for their Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers, saying “his health and safety are our highest priority.”
Prescott’s message to other athletes in light of this situation is simple: have open conversations with your team’s coaching staff. He acknowledged that there can sometimes be a stigma about doing it as an NFL player, but there’s nothing wrong with putting things on his radar.
“I’m in a fortunate situation now that I’m at this point in my career, but it’s about building good relationships with these guys (the coaching staff),” Prescott said. “Tell them everything. You can be in the know. You can tell them and just say ‘that’s fine, but I’ll let you know.’ I encourage all athletes: don’t be shy if something bothers you. Talk about it. Ultimately, it’s a tough guy’s sport, so let them know if you’re okay by saying “hey, I’m just letting you know.” I’m just alerting you so you can anticipate things like this.'”
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