Eagles star Jalen Hurts benched due to blood clot issue

A blood clot will keep Jalen Hurts out of Philadelphia’s game against Carolina on Sunday.

The Eagles announced the decision on Thursday, describing the clot in his calf as superficial. Hurts said the injury happened in an Oct. 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams, when he took a cleat to his calf area.

“It was a very unique experience, to say the least,” Hurts told reporters Wednesday. “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.”

The quarterback practiced on Wednesday and Thursday last week and told the medical staff about the injury after the Oct. 8 practice. He also took part in Friday’s practice last week, before the team flew to London for the game against Jacksonville.

“Out of an abundance of caution, an ultrasound was performed on Saturday following the team’s flight to London and walkthrough,” the Eagles said in a statement. “The ultrasound revealed a superficial blood clot. Our medical staff and doctors in London reviewed the results and concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Jalen could safely play. Doctors recommended a follow-up ultrasound within 72 hours of the game and the return flight to Philadelphia.”

Hurts did not appear from the tunnel in London until shortly before the coin toss. In the 19-17 loss to the Jaguars, he completed 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards and one touchdown.

“I was trying to rest,” he said, laughing.

After returning to Philadelphia, Hurts had treatment on Monday and Tuesday this week and was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. Another ultrasound on Wednesday revealed a “movement in the small blood clot.”

The Eagles said in a statement that they would determine the appropriate course of treatment. No timetable has been given for Hurts’s return.

Backup Tanner McKee is the likely starter for the Eagles against the Panthers.

Carolina Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton returned to practice this week for the first time since doctors found multiple blood clots in his right lung. Moton was placed on blood thinners.

The kind of blood clot Hurts has often forms in a vein close to the surface of the skin, but can be painful and need treatment. Hurts, who is 28, has eight touchdowns and three interceptions with 933 yards passing this season for the Eagles.

He has led the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances and earned MVP honours after they beat the Kansas City Chiefs to win the championship in the 2024 season. Hurts is in the midst of a five-year, $255 million extension, including $179.3 million guaranteed, that takes him through the 2028 season with the Eagles.

The Eagles stunned fans when they drafted Hurts out of Oklahoma in the second round in 2020. They seemingly had Carson Wentz entrenched at quarterback and had more pressing needs.

Hurts was expected to serve as insurance for Wentz. Instead, he supplanted him and became one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL.

The Eagles have been banged up all season and hope running back Saquon Barkley, who has a hamstring problem, and No. 1 wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who also has a hamstring problem, can play Sunday.

As crucial as those absences have been, playing without Hurts would sting the most.