Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli — blood clots in both lungs — and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 NFL season. The Eagles placed him on injured reserve two days ago after consultations with multiple medical specialists. A full recovery is anticipated, with a return to contact football expected once he completes a course of blood thinners, which takes a minimum of three months.
In a joint statement Monday, Hurts’s agent Nicole Lynn and the Eagles said Hurts is “clinically stable and has no significant functional limitations” and that his prognosis is “very good.” The statement added: “We anticipate that he will have the opportunity to resume contact football activities when off the blood thinners. In the meantime, he will remain active around the team and continue to condition. More importantly, we anticipate that he will have no long-term effects.”
The London Game and 36 Hours Without Sleep
The full gravity of Hurts’s situation has emerged in stages over the past week. He was initially diagnosed with what was described as a superficial blood clot in his calf while in London ahead of the Eagles’ Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Doctors advised him not to sleep — sleeping was considered a risk associated with the clot’s position. He was in hospital until 4am on the morning of the game.
Hurts had been awake for approximately 36 hours when he took the first snap against the Jaguars. He played every offensive snap of the game, completing 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown, fumbling twice — both recovered by Philadelphia — in a 19-17 loss sealed by a 57-yard field goal as time expired.
He was not listed on the Eagles’ injury report until Friday of that week, and even then appeared as a full participant with no injury designation. The full diagnosis — clots in both lungs, not merely the original calf clot — was confirmed over the following weekend through further imaging.
The clot is considered “provoked,” meaning it has an identifiable cause — Hurts was cleated in the calf during play — which carries a more favourable prognosis than an unprovoked clot.
What Comes Next for the Eagles
Tanner McKee started in Hurts’s place in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers, completing 26 of 45 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown in a 25-14 home loss. McKee is now the Eagles’ starter for the foreseeable future. The team also lost right tackle Lane Johnson to retirement earlier this month, meaning Philadelphia has now lost two of its key players in quick succession.
Hurts, a three-time Pro Bowler, will remain active around the team during his treatment period. The Eagles have not indicated any timeline beyond the minimum three months required for blood thinner treatment.
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