Key Highlights
- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 NFL season after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli.
- Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is under scrutiny for allowing Hurts to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London after a superficial blood clot was reportedly identified, but the team has not publicly explained the decision in detail.
- Tanner McKee is expected to lead the Philadelphia offense against the Dallas Cowboys on October 26 while Hurts, who is clinically stable, receives treatment for blood clots.
Jalen Hurts’s Blood-Clot Diagnosis Ends His 2026 Season
The Philadelphia Eagles have immediate concerns beyond their disappointing 2-4 record, with their starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts, facing a potentially season-ending medical issue. Hurts is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 NFL season after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, serious blood-clotting conditions that require treatment with blood thinners.
The Eagles and Hurts’s agent, Nicole Lynn, confirmed that the quarterback is clinically stable and receiving treatment for blood clots affecting both lungs. Doctors expect a full recovery, but Hurts cannot participate in contact football while taking blood thinners.
Timeline Raises Questions About Hurts’s Clearance in London
Scrutiny of the Eagles’ medical and organizational decisions centers on the events preceding Philadelphia’s Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Hurts reportedly sustained an injury when he was cleated during the Eagles’ October 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams. He sought medical treatment several days later, and an ultrasound conducted in London reportedly identified a superficial clot. Despite that finding, the quarterback was cleared to play against Jacksonville.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Hurts remained in hospital until approximately 4 a.m. before the game. Questions have since intensified over why the Eagles considered it safe for Hurts to participate and why he was permitted to travel back to Philadelphia with the team after the Jaguars matchup.
Nick Sirianni Defers to the Eagles’ Medical Staff
Speaking Monday after the Eagles’ 25-14 defeat to the Carolina Panthers, Sirianni repeatedly referred questions about Hurts’s treatment and availability to medical professionals rather than providing a detailed explanation. When asked why the Eagles believed it was safe for Hurts to play in London, the head coach emphasized the organization’s commitment to player welfare.
“The health of our players is always at the forefront of our mind,” Sirianni told reporters. “Leave that up to the medical experts. We always, always care deeply about our players.”
When reporters returned to the issue and asked why Hurts had been allowed to take the team flight back to Philadelphia after playing against Jacksonville, Sirianni again emphasized the team’s reliance on its medical personnel.
“Again, I’m not a medical expert,” Sirianni responded. “We get medical information from our guys, and we always put the players health first and foremost in every situation.”
Sirianni also expressed “full trust and full faith” in Philadelphia’s medical staff when asked whether the situation should have been handled differently. However, he declined to identify the medical personnel involved in discussions about Hurts’s availability or provide further details about the decision-making process.
A Superficial Clot Can Become More Serious
The unanswered questions are particularly significant because deep vein thrombosis can lead to pulmonary embolism. Sports medicine specialist Dr. Brian Sutterer had previously warned that an initially superficial clot could develop into a more serious condition.
Hurts’s diagnosis therefore creates both a short-term obstacle for Philadelphia and a longer-term question about his return to the NFL. Although doctors expect a full recovery, the quarterback’s prescribed treatment rules out contact football for the remainder of the season.
Tanner McKee Set to Lead Philadelphia Against Dallas
The Eagles must now try to recover from four consecutive defeats without Hurts, who recorded 933 passing yards and eight touchdowns before being sidelined. Tanner McKee is expected to continue leading the offense when Philadelphia faces the Dallas Cowboys on October 26.
Joe Milton is also part of the Eagles’ broader quarterback discussion, but McKee is the only player identified in the current situation as the expected starter for the October 26 game. Philadelphia has not yet provided a detailed public explanation of the decisions surrounding Hurts’s participation in London or his subsequent travel, and those questions are unlikely to disappear with the quarterback’s season potentially over.
Why This Matters
Hurts’s absence places the Eagles’ medical review and communication under greater scrutiny at a critical moment for the organization. The reported sequence of a cleating injury, delayed treatment, a superficial-clot finding, medical clearance and subsequent team travel has left unresolved questions about how the decision was reached and who was involved.
For Philadelphia, the immediate challenge is to prepare for Dallas with McKee while Hurts begins treatment for blood clots affecting both lungs. For Hurts, the priority is his recovery, with no possibility of contact football while taking blood thinners. The Eagles’ decision to defer to their medical staff has not answered the broader questions raised by his participation and travel, leaving the organization to explain those circumstances as scrutiny continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Jalen Hurts return during the 2026 NFL season?
Hurts is not expected to return. He is expected to miss the remainder of the season while receiving treatment for deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. Doctors expect a full recovery, but he cannot participate in contact football while taking blood thinners.
Why was Jalen Hurts allowed to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London?
The Eagles have not publicly provided a detailed explanation. Nick Sirianni repeatedly deferred to the organization’s medical personnel and declined to identify those involved in Hurts’s availability decision, leaving the circumstances surrounding his clearance unresolved.
Who will start for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys?
Tanner McKee is expected to lead the offense on October 26. Joe Milton remains part of Philadelphia’s quarterback discussion, but the current report identifies McKee as the expected starter for the game against Dallas.
