The Philadelphia Eagles are bracing for an extended stretch without Jalen Hurts after the team disclosed Thursday that the quarterback has a superficial blood clot in his calf, an issue that worsened after he played through it last week.
Hurts has already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, and the Eagles said he will not return until the problem is fully resolved. Tanner McKee is set to start in his place.
The timeline behind the injury is unsettling. Hurts first went to the training staff last Thursday after getting cleated in the Eagles’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Oct.
- That was four days after the hit, and it came after he had already practiced on Wednesday and Thursday.
He then received treatment and practiced again on Friday.
Once the team arrived in London on Saturday before its loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, medical staff performed an ultrasound that showed the blood clot. According to the team’s statement, “medical staff and doctors in London reviewed the results and concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Jalen could safely play.”
Hurts did suit up in London and “played without limitation" as he threw for 220 yards and a touchdown. He barely ran, though, finishing with just two rushing yards on two attempts, his lowest carry total of the season. Last season, he had only one game with two carries.
Back in Philadelphia, Hurts received treatment on Monday and Tuesday and then practiced Wednesday. Asked about the injury after practice, he didn’t offer much, saying he was “nicked up” in the game against the Rams.
But another ultrasound on Wednesday night changed the picture. The Eagles said it “revealed movement in the small blood clot,” and that pushed the team to shut Hurts down for Week 6.
The setback lands at a rough moment for Philadelphia, which is off to a 2-3 start. Hurts has completed 57.8% of his passes for 933 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions, and he has added 107 rushing yards on 23 carries.
For now, though, the football piece takes a back seat to the medical one. Hurts won’t be back until the clot is cleared, and that has to be the priority.
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