Why Eagles won't be punished by NFL for Jalen Hurts blood clot situation

Members of the NFL community were shocked and concerned to learn on Monday that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after doctors discovered multiple blood clots in his lungs. 

As Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio and others noted, Monday's developments sparked new questions about how Hurts was permitted to travel to London with a blood clot in his leg, play against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 11 and then fly back to Philadelphia shortly after that game wrapped up. 

On Tuesday, Jonathan Jones of The Athletic shared an update regarding Hurts' participation in the Week 5 contest. 

Eagles handled the Jalen Hurts blood clot matter "appropriately"

"The NFL has concluded that the process surrounding Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts being cleared to play in Week 5 with a superficial blood clot 'was handled appropriately,'" Jones explained. "The source, speaking to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, says the NFL will not issue any punishment to the Eagles for its handling of the medical process, or for Hurts not being given an injury designation ahead of the game." 

Previously, NFL insider Tom Pelissero of The Ringer and Netflix reported that Hurts "had been awake for roughly 36 hours when he started against the Jaguars" because doctors advised the signal-caller "not to sleep as a precaution." Pelissero later said that he learned from Hurts' agent that "while Hurts was up until early Sunday morning getting evaluated at a hospital, he was able to sleep upon rejoining the team, and the Eagles set aside a room for him at the stadium." 

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter later reported that "Hurts was in the hospital late night in London, and upon returning to the hotel at 3:00 am local time, he was able to sleep until the team left for the stadium at 10:30 am." 

That story added that Hurts "napped until heading out to the field for pregame warmups."

Why some thought the Eagles could (and should) be punished after Jalen Hurts blood clot situation

For a piece published on Monday, Cayden Steele of NJ Advance Media spoke with one sports medicine doctor who said "those clots could have killed" Hurts. Virtua Health pulmonologist Dr. Matthew Gordon "would not go so far as to say that Hurts could have died" but did acknowledge while speaking with Steele that "the situation could be life-threatening." 

In a Monday statement posted on the Eagles' website, the club and Hurts' agent said that "we anticipate that [Hurts] will have the opportunity to resume contact football activities when off" blood thinners. The statement added that Hurts "will have no long-term effects." 

Nevertheless, it's possible that he has taken his last in-game snap as an Eagles player. Backup Tanner McKee started in Hurts' place against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 18, and he completed 26-of-45 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown in a 25-14 loss that dropped the Eagles to 2-4. Presumably, McKee will start again when the Eagles host the rival Dallas Cowboys (2-4) for a "Monday Night Football" game on Oct. 26.