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NFL Defends Eagles Handling Of Jalen Hurts Blood Clots As NFLPA Demands Full Investigation
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NFL defends Eagles' medical handling of Hurts' blood clots. NFLPA calls for a full investigation into Hurts' medical care.
18 outlets told this the same way.
Union seeks probe
The NFL defended the Philadelphia Eagles' handling of quarterback Jalen Hurts's blood clots, with Dr. Allen Sills saying, "I have complete confidence in the Eagles' medical staff and their handling of this situation."
The NFL Players Association called for a full investigation after the league said it did not plan to review the care, and the union said, "Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred."
Hurts is on injured reserve and is expected to miss the rest of the season after a blood clot in his left calf traveled to his lungs, and the Eagles and agent Nicole Lynn said he has deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary embolisms.
Jeff Miller pushed back on reports that Hurts went more than 30 hours without sleep, saying Hurts slept for around seven or eight hours after returning to the hotel and going to the stadium.
Dr. Caron Rockman said, "It's a judgment call," and she said there was no evidence the Eagles acted improperly while dealing with what she called not a textbook issue.
League says no punishment
The NFL released a statement saying it was in contact with the Eagles during the tests, going back to the first one in London, and it said the Cleveland Clinic in London was part of the process. The NFLPA responded that it was not aware of any NFL investigation, and it said, "The NFLPA is not aware of any NFL investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts." The league also clarified what it called "misinformation" about reports that Hurts did not sleep for 36 hours ahead of the international game, and it said, "That was not true and no one told him not to sleep because of his situation."
The Eagles placed Hurts on injured reserve, and the team and Hurts's agent said his treatment should only involve anticoagulation and that he will not be allowed to participate in any football activities until he is off them. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said, "The health of our players is always at the forefront of our mind," while expressing "full faith" in the team's medical experts.
What happens next
Hurts's medical timeline became central to the dispute, because the Eagles said an ultrasound in London on Oct. 10 revealed a superficial blood clot in his left calf and that London-based doctors concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Jalen could safely play.
After returning to Philadelphia, Hurts underwent a follow-up ultrasound Wednesday that revealed movement in the blood clot, prompting the Eagles to rule him out for the game against the Carolina Panthers.
The NFL said it works one to two years in advance of international games to prep for medical care, identifying local hospitals, physicians and resources at every site, and it said Dr. Allen Sills arranges for medical resources with leading providers in every international market with approval from the NFL Players Association.
The NFLPA's demand for a full investigation kept the focus on whether the process that cleared Hurts to play in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London was handled appropriately.
Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the season after doctors discovered multiple blood clots in the quarterback's lungs, and the union's call for a full investigation framed the next step as determining the facts to ensure players receive the highest level of care and protection going forward.