The Philadelphia Eagles have come under fire after it emerged that superstar quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss the rest of the NFL season after multiple blood clots were discovered in his lungs.
But head coach Nick Sirianni has defended the team’s medical staff, insisting he has ‘full trust and full faith in them’ – despite the backlash to Hurts’ health scare.
The quarterback was diagnosed with blood clots after taking a cleat to his calf against the Los Angeles Rams. He then played in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars the following week.
According to reports, Hurts took to the field having barely slept. He had stayed in the hospital until 4am the night before the game. The Daily Mail has approached the Eagles and NFL for comment.
After flying back to the United States, the quarterback was placed on injured reserve and missed this weekend’s loss to the Carolina Panthers. On Monday, a statement laid bare the terrifying extent of the issue.
It revealed that Hurts ‘was initially diagnosed by specialists in London with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis’ but that ‘after further testing and monitoring, the current diagnosis is a deep vein thrombosis, as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli.’
The Philadelphia Eagles have come under fire after it emerged that superstar quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss the rest of the NFL season
Multiple blood clots were discovered in the lungs of the Eagles’ superstar quarterback
The news sparked outrage in some quarters, with Stephen A. Smith among those to vent their frustration.
‘How was Jalen Hurts on that football field?’ he asked. ‘Clearly this is not something that – appears at least – to fall in line with the NFL and its apparent commitment to safety measures to protect players from themselves.’
The ESPN star added: ‘I need an explanation from the Philadelphia Eagles. I want to emphasize yet again: I am not making any accusations. I am inferring that an inquisition is necessary.
‘I am inferring that questions need to be asked. I am inferring that that statement that was released jointly by the Philadelphia Eagles organization and the agent Nicole Lynn is not acceptable.’
Radio personality Craig Carton, meanwhile, claimed the saga proves the NFL ‘truly don’t care if their players die.’
‘This might be the craziest thing I’ve ever heard in regards to the NFL,’ he posted on X. ‘How did Eagles doctors allow this!?’ Others on social media called for team medics to ‘lose their medical license,’ while one fan suggested NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should pay with his job.
On Monday afternoon, Sirianni spoke about the controversy at a fiery media conference. When asked how it was deemed safe for Hurts to face the Jaguars, he said: ‘The health of our players is always at the forefront of our mind… we always, always care deeply about our players… you’re always thinking about the well being of your guys and that’s where we were in that situation.’
He continued: ‘I’m not a medical expert… I lean on our guys in all those situations. I’m a football coach. I lean on our medical experts in every situation. I have full trust and full faith in them.
‘It’s not just me who has major care for our players, it’s them as well. We are all there and I’m glad to be part of an organization that cares about our guys the way our guys do.’
On Monday afternoon, Nick Sirianni spoke about the controversy at a fiery media conference
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Sirianni was later pressed on the decision to allow Hurts to fly home from London. ‘We get medical information from our guys. We always put our players’ health first and foremost in every situation. And that’s where we were there,’ he said.
‘I fully trust the people that are involved in helping us all make these decisions and we have great people here.’
His comments followed the statement from the Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, which read: ‘Over the last few days, Jalen Hurts has received comprehensive medical evaluations by physician experts. In the interest of transparency, we are providing additional information on the diagnosis and treatment plan related to his condition.
‘Jalen was initially diagnosed by specialists in London with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis. After further testing and monitoring, the current diagnosis is a deep vein thrombosis, as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli.
‘He is clinically stable and has no significant functional limitations. His treatment should only involve anticoagulation [i.e. ‘blood thinners’]. During this time. He will not be allowed to participate in any contact activities. Including football.
‘Jalen’s prognosis is very good. And we expect a full recovery. 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. We are thinking of Jalen and looking forward to a strong recovery.’
Hurts first appeared on the injury report on the Friday before the Jaguars game, being listed as a full participant with a calf injury.
He was never downgraded to questionable or doubtful and had no injury designation for the game but remained on the injury report as a full participant with a calf injury at the start of last week.
‘It was a very unique experience, to say the least,’ Hurts said. ‘I don’t want to get into the details of kind of leading up to the game and whatnot, but got nicked up in the Rams game.’
