Jalen Hurts sidelined for season following blood clots diagnosis

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss the rest of the 2026 NFL season to undergo treatment for blood clots in his lungs, Fox News and the NFL reported. Daily Mail reported that Hurts suffered an injury after taking a cleat to his calf during a game against the Los Angeles Rams before playing in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Medical evaluations subsequently identified blood clots in both of his lungs, according to Fox News. [1][2]

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers criticized the NFL medical staff regarding the situation, the Daily Mail and the New York Post reported. Rodgers stated that he does not know all the details but noted that he has never seen eye to eye with top league medical personnel, according to the New York Post. [2][3]

Doctor Joseph V. Lombardi, chief physician executive at AtlantiCare, told Fox News that physical fitness reduces risks but does not make individuals immune to dangerous blood clots. He stated that young and active people can develop blood clots when factors such as physical injury, recent surgery, or long travel combine, according to Fox News. [1]

Hurts began his college football career with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2016 before completing his final college season with the Oklahoma Sooners. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Hurts threw eight touchdowns in five starts for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2026 season before being placed on injured reserve to undergo an estimated three months of medical treatment. [4][6]