Reports: NFL won't punish Eagles for letting Hurts play with blood clot

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  Tim McManusOct 20, 2026, 03:48 PM ET

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  Tim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine's Birds 24/7, a site he helped create, since 2010.

PHILADELPHIA -- The NFL will not punish the Philadelphia Eagles for how they handled the process surrounding quarterback Jalen Hurts being cleared to play Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to multiple reports.

The league's decision was first reported Tuesday by The Athletic, which also reported that the NFL determined the Eagles did not violate the league's injury report policy.

Hurts is expected to miss the rest of the season after doctors discovered multiple blood clots in the quarterback's lungs, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.

In a statement released Tuesday, the NFL said officials had been in contact with Eagles medical personnel and the Cleveland Clinic in London throughout the process of Hurts being treated.

"The league's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Allen Sills, arranges for medical resources with leading providers in every international market with approval from the NFL Players Association," the league said. "Medical care for players is provided by club medical staff in coordination with independent doctors."

Sills and other officials are expected to address reporters at the league's annual fall meeting later Tuesday in New York.

Hurts will undergo treatment involving blood thinners that is expected to sideline the three-time Pro Bowler for at least three months, sources informed of the diagnosis told Rapoport and Schefter.

Hurts' agent, Nicole Lynn, and the Eagles released a statement Monday detailing Hurts' condition. Lynn and the Eagles said Hurts has deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, meaning a blood clot traveled from his legs to his lungs.

Hurts was initially diagnosed with what was described as a superficial blood clot in his calf. That diagnosis occurred in London before the Eagles' Week 5 game against the Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Hurts played in that game -- a 19-17 loss for the Eagles -- despite the initial diagnosis and attempted 40 passes.

Sources told Rapoport that Hurts was in the hospital late night in London and upon returning to the hotel at 3:00 a.m. local time, he was able to sleep until the team left for the stadium at 10:30am. Upon arrival, Hurts napped until heading out to the field for pregame warmups.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni did not go into detail about why Hurts was allowed to play in the Jaguars game after he was diagnosed with having a blood clot but maintained that "the health of our players is always at the forefront of our mind" while expressing "full faith" in the team's medical experts.

"The same doctors and trainers that helped 21 of our 22 starters be available in the Super Bowl are the same guys today that deeply care about our guys, to help them," Sirianni said Monday.

Hurts' clot is considered to be "provoked" -- meaning a favorable prognosis with treatment and care -- because he was cleated in his calf, sources told Rapoport.

The Eagles placed Hurts on injured reserve three days ago after consultations with numerous doctors and experts. Hurts already had been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, but the Eagles waited to make the roster move until after consulting with medical experts.

Sirianni would not reveal the contents of his personal conversations with Hurts but acknowledged that not having Hurts on the field for the foreseeable future will mean a transition.

"I haven't been without Jalen for an extended period of time," the coach said. "I have the utmost confidence in Tanner, but I miss him. I miss him, and I know that will be the case because Jalen and I have been together, head coach and quarterback, for six years, so that's natural."

"I don't want to speak for him in any sense of the matter, but I deeply care about him and hope that he continues to improve with what he's going through."

Hurts took a cleat to his calf area Oct. 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. He informed the Eagles' medical staff of the injury after practice Oct. 8. and was back at practice the next day before the team left for London.

An ultrasound in London on Oct. 10 revealed Hurts' superficial blood clot. The Eagles said last week that their medical staff and London-based doctors reviewed the ultrasound results and "concluded that activity and mobility were important and that Jalen could safely play" against the Jaguars.

After returning to Philadelphia, Hurts underwent a follow-up ultrasound last Wednesday that revealed movement in the blood clot, prompting the Eagles to rule him out for the game against the Panthers.

Hurts hadn't missed more than two games in a season since becoming Philadelphia's quarterback in 2021. He is the fourth-leading passer in franchise history and has led the Eagles to three NFC East titles, two Super Bowl appearances and a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs two years ago in Super Bowl LIX, when he was named MVP.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and The Associated Press contributed to this report.