The Philadelphia Eagles were dealt quite a blow this week, as they revealed star quarterback Jalen Hurts was managing a superficial blood clot and would not play vs. the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Given the situation, it wouldn't be surprising if Hurts missed more than one game. In their statement released on Thursday, the Eagles said that four days after the Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Hurts requested treatment on his calf.
He believed he was kicked or cleated in the game, and his leg was bothering him. The Eagles performed an ultrasound on their quarterback's leg after they landed in London last week, and that's when the superficial blood clot was discovered. However, the Eagles' medical staff determined Hurts could suit up against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
On Wednesday, back in Philadelphia, the Eagles conducted a follow-up ultrasound, during which they saw that the clot had moved. While the Eagles have not disclosed exact details of the situation, the movement of a blood clot could potentially lead to a pulmonary embolism, which could be very serious. Hurts told reporters on Wednesday that his "calf injury" was "a very unique experience, to say the least," and that he got "nicked up" in the Rams game.
Now, he's dealing with a situation that will hold him out indefinitely. Let's take a look at what's going on with Hurts. The Eagles did not go into detail about the clot, but the fact that it's "superficial" is likely a good sign.
This could be classified as "superficial thrombophlebitis," per Harvard Health Publishing. An article found on The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) describes a condition called "superficial vein thrombosis" (SuVT), where clots develop in superficial veins, typically in the legs or arms. Superficial veins are those closer to the surface of the skin.
Risk factors include varicose veins, recent trauma, immobility and surgery. This is different than "deep vein thrombosis," which is a much more serious condition that requires anti-clotting drugs, and could have completely ended Hurts' 2026 season. We've seen several cases of deep vein thrombosis in the NBA recently, including with Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, who missed the final 30 games of the 2024-25 season after doctors discovered deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
