Eagles under investigation over Jalen Hurts blood clots, NFL and NFLPA confirm in joint statement
The NFL and National Football League Players Association released a joint statement Sunday revealing that an investigation would be conducted into how the Philadelphia Eagles handled Jalen Hurts’ blood clot situation during and around the team’s Week 5 trip to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“The NFL and NFL Players Association are working together to review the matter,” the statement said.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo further reported on the situation and said: “Communication is ongoing regarding the investigation that the union has requested into how this was handled with Hurts. It takes time, it’s a big effort, obviously. But the parties have started communication to understand the logistics of how this is going to happen.”
This comes after the NFLPA released a statement on Tuesday calling for a “full investigation” into the situation.
“The NFLPA is not aware of any investigation by the NFL into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts,” the statement said, according to ESPN’s Tim McManus. “In fact, the league has already informed the union that it has no plans to review the care he received. Before drawing any conclusions about how this situation was handled, there must be a thorough investigation into what happened. Establishing the facts is essential to ensuring that players receive the highest level of care and protection in the future.”
McManus noted that the statement was a response to comments from NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills, who said: “The idea that there are external factors that one of our doctors would put a player in harm’s way – that’s nonsense.”
Sills also called the Eagles’ injury treatment “very conservative, very patient-oriented and properly monitored every step of the way.”
Eagles and Hurts agent Nicole Lynn also released a joint statement saying, in part, that the quarterback was “clinically stable and had no significant functional limitations. … Jalen’s prognosis is very good and we expect a full recovery.”
“We anticipate that he will have the opportunity to return to contact football activities when he is no longer taking blood thinners. In the meantime, he will remain active with the team and continue conditioning. Most importantly, we anticipate that he will have no long-term effects.”
As McManus detailed, the team said an Oct. 10 ultrasound revealed a superficial blood clot and the team’s medical staff and London-based doctors concluded he was safe to take the field.
However, a follow-up ultrasound after returning to Philadelphia showed that the blood clot had moved. He was ruled out for the following game against the Carolina Panthers and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
ESPN’s Ian Rapoport (with McManus) reported that Hurts was able to sleep before the Jaguars game after being at the hospital late that night.
The Jaguars ended up winning the game 19-17 with a last-second field goal, and Hurts went 21 of 40 for 220 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Tanner McKee played the next game for Philadelphia, which Carolina won 25-14. The Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys Monday Night Football during week 7.
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