Jalen Hurts will miss the Eagles’ Week 6 matchup against the Carolina Panthers after a follow-up ultrasound detected movement in a superficial blood clot (Getty Images)
Jalen Hurts will miss the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers after a follow-up ultrasound revealed movement in a superficial blood clot in his calf. The finding changed the team’s approach to a problem that first emerged after Philadelphia’s October 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The issue began when Hurts sought treatment for his calf on October 8. An ultrasound conducted after the Eagles arrived in London on October 10 detected a superficial blood clot. Doctors reviewed the results and cleared Hurts to play against the Jaguars on October 11. He took part without restrictions, throwing for 220 yards and a touchdown in Philadelphia’s 19-17 defeat. The team also arranged another ultrasound within 72 hours of the game and the return flight.
Hurts is therefore out for at least the Panthers game, with his status beyond Week 6 unresolved. The Eagles have not announced when he might return, leaving their starting quarterback’s availability uncertain as the team tries to recover from a difficult start to the season. Philadelphia has said it is still deciding on the appropriate course of treatment, and there is no confirmed timetable for his return.
He told the medical staff he had been cleated during the loss to the Rams four days earlier. The team said, “His health and safety are our highest priority. The term “superficial” can sound reassuring, but it does not tell the whole story.
Hurts had played against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London after doctors cleared him, but his latest scan prompted a more cautious response. It showed that the small clot had moved, leading the Eagles to rule Hurts out against Carolina while they determine the appropriate treatment. The distinction is important. The latest scan gave the team new information, and Philadelphia chose not to take another chance with its franchise quarterback. The movement detected in Hurts’ follow-up scan is why the Eagles are taking another look at the condition. Blood clots can carry serious risks if they extend or travel to the lungs, although the team has not disclosed enough medical detail to determine Hurts’ individual risk. That uncertainty also makes a return date difficult to predict.
Hurts had been cleared to play based on the earlier assessment, but that decision did not guarantee he would remain fit to play after further medical checks.