“Mutually agreed-upon independent medical experts” will review the circumstances surrounding the blood clots that sidelined Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, the NFL confirmed on November 6.
The league and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) are working to define the parameters of this investigation, which aims to determine why the medical decisions were made during the quarterback’s diagnosis and treatment.
The review follows a request from U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), who questioned the league’s medical protocols after Hurts was cleared to play in London despite an initial diagnosis of a superficial blood clot.
“I am deeply relieved that Mr. Hurts's story did not end the way my husband's did,” U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) wrote.
Hurts, 28, reported calf pain to the Eagles’ medical staff on October 8, stemming from an incident four days earlier during a 24–20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams where he was cleated in the calf. An ultrasound performed in London on October 10 revealed a superficial blood clot in his left calf.
Despite the finding, team doctors cleared the quarterback to play in the October 11 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hurts participated in the game without restrictions, received treatment on the following Monday and Tuesday, and took part fully in practice on October 14.
Following the team’s return to Philadelphia, a follow-up ultrasound on October 14 indicated the clot had moved. The Eagles placed Hurts on injured reserve on October 17. By October 19, the team and his agent, Nicole Lynn, confirmed a more severe diagnosis: deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and bilateral pulmonary emboli, meaning clots had reached both of his lungs.
The findings and recommendations will be shared with both parties.
Independent medical experts will review the care Eagles QB Jalen Hurts received for blood clots. The NFL and NFLPA will jointly select the experts, who will report their findings and recommendations to both sides. More from @ZBerm.https://t.co/TtD0Ea3KKe
“We look forward to sharing more information with you once the joint review is completed.” The review will focus on the care provided, though the league noted it has not established that the Eagles or their medical staff acted improperly.
Medical experts note that superficial clots typically do not progress to deep veins unless other health factors are present. Dr. Samantha Pettigrew, a thoracic specialist at Temple Health, explained that “the blood cannot pass through from the heart, so the heart can be under more pressure” when clots reach the lungs.
Dr. Jose Escobar, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Texas Health Denton, said that stasis of blood—often caused by travel—and trauma to blood vessels increase the risk of such conditions.
Hurts is currently undergoing treatment with blood thinners. Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the NFL season. Local medical experts cited by The Philadelphia Inquirer suggest that patients with similar conditions typically require blood-thinning medication for at least three months.
Senator Blunt Rochester continued to press the league for answers regarding standard protocols for preventing and treating blood clots. The league has indicated that it may consider additional league-wide guidance following the conclusion of the joint review.
With patient privacy laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the public may never know all the exact details of the injury.
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