Jalen Hurts’ return to the Philadelphia Eagles lineup hinges on one medical benchmark: his blood clot needs to be completely gone, according to a report from Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer.
The Eagles placed Hurts on injured reserve after doctors found a blood clot in his calf area, a move that requires him to sit out a minimum of four games. Team insiders describe his absence as potentially indefinite while doctors monitor the clot.
Speaking on “FOX NFL Sunday,” Glazer explained how the situation escalated. “At first, the blood clot was superficial; it wasn’t moving around,” he said, noting that’s why Hurts was able to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London last week. But things changed. “Once it changed and that blood clot started moving, you do not mess around with a moving blood clot. That could be a life-or-death situation.”
Glazer said doctors will need multiple scans confirming the clot has fully dissolved before clearing Hurts to play again. “The only way really for Jalen Hurts to come back — if he can come back this season — is that blood clot needs to be completely melted,” he said. “Because if it’s not, and if it floats up to the wrong areas, it’d be very, very dangerous.”
David Chao, who spent 17 years as the Los Angeles Chargers’ team doctor while the franchise was based in San Diego, told OutKick that the type of clot matters a great deal. “Do they mean movement as in it’s propagating and it’s now a bigger superficial blood clot? Or is it movement meaning it’s deeper and it’s a deep vein clot?” Chao said. “If he has a deep vein clot, he’s out for multiple weeks, at least.”
With Hurts sidelined, backup quarterback Tanner McKee made his first start of the season Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. The Eagles lost, 25-14, despite McKee throwing for 215 yards and a touchdown to DeVonta Smith.
Philadelphia will be without Hurts for at least three more games, all of them NFC East matchups: a “Monday Night Football” meeting with the Dallas Cowboys, a “Sunday Night Football” game against the Washington Commanders, and a contest with the New York Giants.
Hurts’ injury adds to a rough stretch for the Eagles this season. Running back Saquon Barkley missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, while backs Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are also nursing ailments. Offensive lineman Lane Johnson announced a surprise mid-season retirement as well.
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