The Philadelphia Eagles have watched their 2026 NFL season take a dramatic turn after starting the year 2-0. The team has lost four straight games and now sits at 2-4, all while an injury to quarterback Jalen Hurts has developed into a much more serious medical situation.
Hurts was initially dealing with a calf injury he suffered during a Week 4 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. The team then flew to London for their Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. After arriving in London, Hurts received an ultrasound that revealed a superficial blood clot in his injured left calf.
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Despite the clot in his calf and the fact that he was severely under-rested, Hurts was cleared to play in the game. Following the team’s return to Philadelphia after a collapse against the Jaguars, Hurts underwent a follow-up ultrasound that revealed the clot had moved.
On Monday, the Eagles announced that Hurts was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, meaning the clots had traveled to his lungs. Hurts has been placed on blood thinners and will miss the rest of the season, with backup Tanner McKee taking over starting duties.
The Eagles have faced backlash for their handling of Hurts’ clots. However, Jonathan Jones of The Athletic reported that the NFL reviewed the situation and determined the process was “handled appropriately.”
While the NFL decided the Eagles will not face any punishment, many fans have expressed criticism for the way the situation was handled. Notably, some fans suggest Hurts should take action against the organization. A user on X commented, “lawsuit coming for sure,” with another saying, “that entire medical staff needs to be fired.”
Head coach Nick Sirianni has defended the way the Eagles handled the situation. In a press conference, Sirianni said, “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 folks in every situation.”
There is no indication the Eagles knowingly sent Hurts onto the field with the deep-vein thrombosis diagnosis he ultimately received, as the initial diagnosis was a superficial clot that he was cleared to play through.
The Eagles and the NFL will likely continue to face criticism for the way Hurts’ injury was handled. For now, the organization will continue to monitor Hurts’ recovery as they prepare for their Week 7 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
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