Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss Sunday’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers after medical staff detected movement in a superficial blood clot in his calf, the franchise announced Thursday.
Hurts sustained a calf injury when he was cleated during Philadelphia’s Oct. 4 contest against the Los Angeles Rams, according to the team. The quarterback participated in full practices the following week before requesting calf treatment from athletic trainers on Oct. 8. When the Eagles traveled to London ahead of their Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, team medical personnel performed an ultrasound that detected a superficial blood clot.
Team officials and London-based physicians determined that “activity and mobility were important” and cleared the 28-year-old quarterback to play, the team said in a statement. Hurts played the entire game Sunday, completing 21 of 40 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown in Philadelphia’s 19-17 loss to Jacksonville. He recorded just two rushing yards, his lowest single-game total of the season.
Ultrasound reveals clot movement
Hurts received treatment early in the week and fully participated in practice Wednesday, according to the team’s official injury report. However, an ultrasound conducted Wednesday evening revealed that the clot had shifted.
The team stated that Hurts would miss Sunday’s contest as medical staff “determine the appropriate course of treatment,” adding that his health and safety remain the franchise’s top priority.
While the Eagles have officially declared Hurts out only for the upcoming game, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported on “The Pat McAfee Show” that the quarterback is essentially “out indefinitely” while medical staff work to resolve the issue.
Medical specialists note that superficial blood clots require careful management to prevent further escalation. Dr. Alina Mitina, an emergency physician at Hackensack Medical Center, told Sports Illustrated that superficial clots form near the skin’s surface and carry less immediate danger than deep vein thrombosis, but still warrant caution. Mitina explained that if such a clot spreads into deeper veins, it can cause severe health complications, including traveling to the lungs.
Other medical experts commenting publicly, including Dr. Brian Sutterer and Dr. Tom Christ, noted that if a clot extends or requires treatment with anticoagulant medications, standard athletic guidelines prohibit participation in contact sports, which could sideline Hurts for multiple months.
McKee steps into starting role
With Hurts sidelined, backup quarterback Tanner McKee is expected to direct the offense against Carolina. McKee, a sixth-round selection out of Stanford in 2023, has appeared in six NFL games with two career starts. Rookie Cole Payton serves as the only other quarterback currently on the active roster, though Sports Illustrated reported Philadelphia may consider adding veteran Andy Dalton back to the practice squad after releasing him last week.
Philadelphia enters Sunday’s game with a 2-3 record amid widespread injuries across the roster. Several prominent starters, including running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver DeVonta Smith, did not participate in Thursday’s practice.
What remains unknown is the duration of Hurts’ recovery and whether additional diagnostic tests will indicate a deeper vascular issue. The team faces another crucial divisional matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7, leaving Philadelphia’s immediate offensive plans hanging on upcoming medical evaluations.
