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The NFLPA wants clarity on Jalen Hurts' blood clot situation
The NFLPA wants answers about how the Philadelphia Eagles handled Jalen Hurts’ medical situation. Hurts has been ruled out for the rest of the season after multiple blood clots were found in his lungs.
In a statement Tuesday night, the NFL players’ union said it “is not aware of any NFL investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts.”
Hurts was diagnosed with a superficial blood clot in his left calf in London before Philadelphia played the Jaguars on October 11. After the team returned, a follow-up ultrasound showed the clot had moved.
The NFLPA added that the league “previously informed the union that it did not plan to review the care he received,” and said, “Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred.”
The NFL Players Association called for a full investigation into how the Philadelphia Eagles handled Jalen Hurts’ blood clots
“The NFLPA is not aware of any NFL investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts. In fact, the league previously informed the union that it did not plan to review the care he received,” the statement read.
“Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred. Determining the facts is essential to ensuring players receive the highest level of care and protection going forward.”
While Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said “the health of our players is always at the forefront of our mind,” he did not explain the decision to play Hurts in detail.
On Monday, the Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, announced he has deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli and is being treated with blood thinners. Hurts will miss the rest of the season and is expected to fully recover.
NFL reporter Tom Pelissero said that doctors told Hurts not to sleep “as a precaution” after the initial diagnosis, and that he had been awake “roughly 36 hours” when the game against the Jaguars started. Pelissero later said Lynn clarified that Hurts was evaluated at a London hospital until early Sunday and “was able to sleep upon rejoining the team.”
NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills defended the process at the owners’ meetings, calling the Eagles’ care “very conservative, very patient-focused and appropriately guarded at every step,” per ESPN. He also called the idea that team doctors would endanger a player “nonsense.”
According to ESPN, league sources said the team will not be punished.